Thousands Of Patients Potentially Exposed To HIV And Other Infectious Diseases At Florida Medical Center - A nurse at Broward General Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, FL is suspected to have fled the country after potentially exposing 1,800 patients to infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis. The possible exposure is due to the nurse’s reusage of disposable IV equipment on multiple patients. Further investigation is being conducted; the nurse could face criminal charges if any of the patients she worked with are found to have contracted an infectious disease. For more information, please see the About Lawsuits news article.

An Opportunity For Americans To Speak About HIV And AIDS – President Obama is developing a National HIV/AIDS strategy (NHAS) in the United States and is enlisting the help of communities and individuals across the country to share their opinions. The Office of National AIDS Policy is announcing an online ‘Call to Action: Americans Speak About HIV/AIDS’ to encourage all kinds of organizations, such as schools and businesses, to conduct discussions about steps that can be taken as a country in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. For more information, please see The Office of National AIDS Policy press release.

Pope Canonizes Patron Saint Of HIV/AIDS – On October 11, 2009, Pope Benedict canonized Father Damien de Veuster, known for his missionary work with leprosy patients beginning in 1873. President Obama gave his support to this choice, stating that during the current pandemic of HIV and AIDS it is important to follow Father Damien’s example. For more information, please see the Religion Dispatches news article and the Associate Press news article.

Hemophiliac Patients In Taiwan Battle To Sue Drug Company That Sold Tainted Blood - Hemophiliac patients in Taiwan are appealing a decision by the U.S. court that says patients cannot sue a drug company in the U.S. over allegations that they contracted HIV from contaminated blood products. The allegations are against the company, Cutter, which is now owned by Bayer. According to particular documents, Cutter marketed to countries in Asia blood products that had not been heat-treated, thus making them potentially dangerous. For more information, please see the Guardian news article.