Benefits will not be paid for "nonaccidental"exposure to HIV, the draft says.
Medical experts have reacted with cautiousoptimism to Harvard's plan, which has receivednational attention as the first of its kind in thecountry. Medical School Dean Daniel C. Tosteson'44 endorsed the policy last week, but otherdoctors have been less enthusiastic.
Dr. Robert H. Gifford, an internist who servesas dean of students at Yale Medical School, saidthat while the $100,000 benefit policy is a goodstep, it is more important that employees haveadequate medical insurance if they contract AIDSon the job.
"Health insurance is critical to someone withHIV," said Gifford. "If a person contracts AIDS,the medical bills will easily exceed $100,000."
In the end, Harvard's policy may be receivingattention disproportionate to its importance sincethe risk of contracting HIV in work or study isvery low.
According to the U.S. Centers for DiseaseControl, the risk to health workers of contractingthe virus is one in 10,000.
Daria Lidsky contributed to the reporting ofthis story.