George Michael's Withdrawal from BBC HIV Documentary Stimulates Debate on HIV Testing

George Michael's decision to withdraw his interview from Stephen Fry's BBC Programme 'HIV and Me' has stimulated public debate on HIV testing, including on today's 'The Wright Stuff'. Deborah Jack, Chief Executive of the National AIDS Trust, comments:

"George Michael's decision not to allow this interview, in which he expresses his fears about being tested for HIV, to be shown has stimulated a lot of debate about HIV testing.  The National AIDS Trust very much welcomes this debate, as with one in three people with HIV in the UK still undiagnosed there is a great deal to be done to improve HIV testing in the UK.

A recent report from the National AIDS Trust gives specific recommendations for improving HIV testing and preventing the high number of late HIV diagnoses in the UK.  These include encouraging people to be tested for HIV in sexual health clinics and other settings like GPs' surgeries, and tackling the stigma and discrimination around HIV testing, which makes it much harder for people to take the decision to be tested for HIV."