Office of the Historian

20. Action Memorandum From the Director of the Office of Medical Services (Dustin) to Secretary of State Shultz1

Washington, September 28, 1986

SUBJECT

  • AIDS Testing for Foreign Service Applicants, Employees, and Dependents

M/MED and the Legal Adviser’s office have worked closely together in the preparation of the information contained in this memorandum.

ISSUES FOR DECISION

Whether to authorize testing for HTLV III/LAV as a standard part of the Department’s medical examination process for Foreign Service applicants, employees and dependents.

Whether to reject applicants with a confirmed positive test for HTLV III/LAV for employment in the Foreign Service.

Whether to approve limitation of medical clearance for Foreign Service employees or dependents found to have positive tests for HTLV III/LAV in the course of the routine in-service examination.

ESSENTIAL FACTORS

Due to concerns for the health and safety of members of the Foreign Service and their dependents in view of conditions prevailing at posts abroad, as well as concerns about potential harm to the foreign relations of the United States, M/MED seeks your approval to institute testing of Foreign Service applicants, employees, and dependents for exposure to the HTLV III/LAV (AIDS) virus. At the same time, your approval is sought for modification of Foreign Service medical standards to exclude from Foreign Service employment applicants who have confirmed evidence of HTLV III infection, and to limit as appropriate the assignment overseas of members of the Service who have confirmed evidence of HTLV III infection while employed in the Service. A detailed presentation of the policy reasons for requesting these actions, and an assessment of the legal and political risks involved, is contained in the attached policy paper (Attachment A).2

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RECOMMENDATIONS

1. That you approve testing for HTLV III/LAV virus as a standard part of the Department’s medical examination process for Foreign Service applicants, employees and dependents.3

2. That you approve M/MED’s proposal that a positive HTLV III/LAV test be made a basis for denying medical clearance to applicants for Foreign Service employment.

3. That you approve M/MED’s proposal that a positive HTLV III/LAV test by a Foreign Service employee or dependent on an in-service examination be made a basis for appropriately limiting medical clearance for overseas assignments.

  1. Source: Reagan Library, Papers of George P. Shultz, AIDS testing. No classification marking. Sent through Spiers. Drafted by Goff and Gallagher on July 16; cleared in M/DGP, DGP/PER/HC, L, H, PA, OES, and D.↩
  2. Attached but not printed.↩
  3. On September 28, Shultz approved the three options and wrote “Secto 18039” below the lines.↩