The Ethicist is a Pinhead

So have you read the idiotic column in the New York Times by the self-appointed "Ethicist," Randy Cohen? This chowderhead seems to be operating on pre-1983 knowledge of HIV.

In his March 25, 2009 column, he addresses this antediluvian question: does a person with HIV have an ethical duty to disclose his HIV status to his roommates? Of course, anyone with half a brain, as well as basic knowledge of HIV transmission, knows that the answer is obvious: if he plans to have sex with his roommates, or share needles with them, then he's got an ethical (and legal) duty to disclose first. Otherwise, his roommates have no more need to know his HIV status than his cholesterol level.

But rather than base his column on the obvious fact that never in the nearly 30-year history of the epidemic has there ever been a single documented case of HIV transmission without the intimate exchange of bodily fluids -- and that doesn't happen through vacuuming the living room, reheating a pot pie or watching television on the couch -- he turns to an epidemiologist whom he describes as "not an expert on HIV" (because, you know, it would be impossible for a New York Times columnist to find an HIV expert in Manhattan...). This non-expert declares that "the risk of transmission of household contact is very low." Thus the Pinhead -- sorry, the Ethicist -- magnanimously pronounces that he sees "no obligation to disclose HIV status to housemates."

But he goes on to undermine his own conclusion, imagining all sorts of unique risks that the person with HIV poses. He says that the person with HIV has to make sure he doesn't leave his toothbrush or razor lying around. And he should put Band-Aids on his cuts (in other words, a person with HIV should have the same hygienic consciousness as anyone else). Furthermore, "he should consult his physician about how to generally protect the people he lives with." In short, Cohen reinforces the erroneous notion unless that casual contact will transmit HIV. And really, isn't the ethical duty on the roommate not to use someone else's razor without asking first?

Cohen brings his point home in his concluding paragraph: "While disclosing his HIV status is not required, to do so would be admirable. The danger such a person presents to housemates is slight, but it would be good if they could act with knowledge of their circumstances." In other words, the "slight" risk (a risk which, in truth, is non-existent) is too much risk to accept without paternalistic warnings. With this sort of reasoning, Cohen should advise people with HIV to do the "admirable" thing and disclose their status to anyone who comes over for a visit. And Cohen never deigns to consider the risk to the person with HIV: who knows if the roommates while kick him out and leave him homeless?

But Cohen saves his greatest moment of hypocrisy for last. After spending his entire column reinforcing the notion that roommates have to be incredibly careful when HIV is in the mix, he concludes with this: "[B]y being forthcoming, your roommate helps combat the stereotype that casual contact with someone who has HIV presents a health risk." Apparently Cohen misses the point that his column supports that very stereotype.

And I coulda sworn the Times had editors and fact checkers.

If you want to read Cohen's stupid column in it's entirety, it's here.