Georgia HIV
clinic shuts down

The Georgia Division of Public Health has shut down a clinic in Carrollton, Ga., that provided care to about 75 HIV-positive clients due to what health officials call "major concerns" about confidentiality issues and the quality of care provided, the Southern Voice reports. A press release issued by the Michael Smith Center claimed that it was shut down due to funding cuts, but a statement issued on behalf of public health director Michael Brackett says officials had voiced concerns about confidentiality and quality-of-care problems at the clinic for more than year but that no significant effort was made to correct them. "The space for the clinic was not acceptable, and client confidentiality required for the privacy of clinical services was not being observed," the statement says, reports Southern Voice.

HIV clients will now be forced to seek HIV care in either LaGrange, Ga., more than 45 miles from the Michael Smith Center, or in Griffin, Ga., about 60 miles away. Transportation assistance to those clinics is available for HIV patients who need it, local health officials say. (The Advocate)