ON THE STREET

This week the Southeast Missourian asked, "What do you think of the Illinois Department of Public Health's proposal to order doctors to furnish names of people who have contracted HIV to be listed on a confidential state registry?

Kelly Penrose, Oran

"If everybody's name is listed to help give more information about AIDS, then they should be listed."

Sarah Clarke, Cairo, Ill.

"I think it's a threat to public health. I don't see where it's a violation of anybody's rights of privacy to be so listed. That's how we beat tuberculosis; that's how we beat polio; that's how we beat venereal disease. How are they going to beat HIV unless something is done?"

Barbara Little, Randles

"I think it should be confidential. As long as the public didn't know, yes, I think that would be a good idea. They would know this, and then if something else came up, they would have an idea that maybe they had transmitted this disease."

Kip Bennett, Cape Girardeau

"I just have a general distrust of the government's ability to carry out most of their well-intended programs, so, in general, I don't think this will work."

Tresa Vinyard, Cape Girardeau

"I think it's a good idea. If someone were to have AIDS, they may not tell their partners that may be at risk, and I think it would be helpful to keep it from spreading. It's going to help with counseling, and it might encourage them to tell their partners that they have it."