Tom Coburn: “I thank Senator Biden and all those who have worked hard on this bill. I have a few comments on my amendment about…”

“I thank Senator Biden and all those who have worked hard on this bill. I have a few comments on my amendment about protecting victims of rape and sexual assault from being further victimized by HIV/AIDS. As a practicing physician, I am deeply concerned about both the physical and emotional well-being of those who have been traumatized by rape and sexual assault. That is why I believe that it is necessary for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act to include timely HIV tests of those accused of rape and sexual assault. There are countless stories of women and children who have been victims of rape and sexual assault who have been denied access to this potentially life-saving information. In some circumstances, rape defendants have even used HIV status information as a plea bargaining tool to reduce their sentences. Let me explain why this is important. Treatment with AIDS drugs immediately following exposure to HIV can significantly reduce the chance of infection. However, because of the toxicity and long-term side effects, these drugs should not be administered without first knowing if HIV exposure has occurred. Victims cannot rely solely on testing themselves because it can take weeks, sometimes months, before HIV antibodies can be detected, Therefore, testing the assailant is the only timely manner in which to determine if someone has been exposed to HIV.…”