AIDS Group Takes Shot at AIM, Says It Violates Privacy Rights

LOS ANGELES — Calling the testing of adult performers a "fig leaf," the AIDS Healthcare Foundation has taken a shot at the industry's top adult-performer testing clinic, asking federal, state and local authorities to look into patient disclosure practice and enforce patient privacy laws.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation, or AHF, in a letter to the authorities said the AIM Healthcare Foundation is "just a a ploy to deflect public scrutiny and government regulation — a ploy that is perpetrated at the expense of the actors’ privacy rights, which would not be violated if the industry simply required actors to use condoms.”

"As we understand it, adult film producers have conferred on AIM a virtual monopoly with respect to STD testing," said Michael Weinstein, president of the Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation. "An actor who wants to work in the industry first needs to be tested at AIM."

Weinstein said that before testing, AIM requires the actor to agree to waive all confidentiality with respect to his or her test results, which AIM then publishes on a website where the highly confidential test results can be viewed by producers.

“AIM testing is a fig leaf that does not protect actors from the risks of unprotected sex during filming,” Weinstein said. “AIM’s hypocrisy is clear — AIM argues that patient privacy rights prevent it from cooperating with public health officials who seek to protect the health of adult film performers. But when profit is at stake, performer privacy seems no longer to be AIM’s concern.”

But AIM shot back Wednesday afternoon, claiming AHF has lodged "an unfounded campaign" to attack the adult-performer testing clinic after previous failed legal maneuvers against it.

"Our privacy policy does not only meet state and federal guidelines, but it exceeds them as well," AIM spokeswoman Brooke Hunter told XBIZ.

AIM operates two clinics in the Los Angeles area, one in Sherman Oaks and another in Granada Hills, but it also has a presence nationwide.

The AHF's letter was addressed to authorities of the federal Office for Civil Rights, a federal agency under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that enforces HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; the California Office of Health Information Integrity Enforcement Unit and Los Angeles County's Health Facilities Inspection Division.

In the letter, AHF raises specific concerns regarding AIM’s use of a so-called Authorization to Release Test Results to obtain privacy waivers from actors.

AHF contends the authorization does not appear to conform to the requirements of the HIPAA, California’s Confidentiality of Medical Information Act or AIDS testing laws.

It further contends that it conditions testing on the receipt from the actor of "an overbroad, irrevocable consent to disclosure of the actor’s STD test results by AIM to whomever AIM feels appropriate, in perpetuity and an indemnification of AIM for any damages resulting from its disclosures."

"The authorization is essentially a waiver of privacy rights that is against public policy," the letter said, citing Civil Code § 56.37. "Disclosures of testing results pursuant to such an invalid authorization would therefore appear to breach the actors’ privacy rights.”

Weinstein said that letters sent on Monday were in reaction to a rise in sexually transmitted diseases among adult film actors in the Los Angeles area.

"A rise due to the adult-film industry’s lack of respect for the actors’ health and safety rights, as well as to local and state agencies’ failure to enforce these rights," he said.

"Although AIM apparently routinely shares confidential performer health information with adult film producers via the internet, the agency has fought vigorously in court to prevent government health regulators such as Cal-OSHA from receiving the very same information, citing patient privacy concerns."

View AHF's letter

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Penny Barber Performs Her 1st Gangbang for MILFY

Reigning XMAs MILF Performer of the Year Penny Barber performs her first gangbang in the latest release from Vixen Media Group (VMG) studio imprint MILFY.

Chloe Amour Makes Cosplayground Debut in 'The Witcher XXX: A Porn Parody'

Chloe Amour has made her Cosplayground debut alongside Ryan Driller in “The Witcher XXX: A Porn Parody.”

Ricky Greenwood on Finding Purpose, Pushing Limits and Making L.A. Home

Ricky Greenwood always knew he wanted to make movies. After graduating from high school, he studied film at a college in Quebec, where he grew up.

FSC Launches Age Verification Toolkit for Adult Websites

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) announced today that it has launched a comprehensive toolkit to help adult websites navigate age verification laws.

Lilly Bell, Chanel Camryn Star in Latest From Vixen

Reigning XMAs Girl/Girl Perfomer of the Year Lilly Bell and Chanel Camryn star with Dan Damage in the new Vixen scene “Daddy’s Girl Lilly and Bestie Chanel Get a Personal Workout.”

Cherie DeVille Launches SFW OnlyFans Series

Multi-XMAs winner Cherie DeVille has launched a SFW series on her OnlyFans channel, titled “Cherie Eats Out.”

Romero Mr. Alien to Present XBIZ Talk at Amsterdam Conference

XBIZ is pleased to announce that noted producer/director Romero Mr. Alien, the impresario of the XMAs award-winning studio Hentaied, will present an exclusive talk at next month’s Amsterdam conference.

Taylor Vixxen Stars in Latest From TeamSkeet

Taylor Vixxen stars in a new scene for TeamSkeet, titled “‘Cheat? But It's My Anniversary!’ My Stepmom’s Filthy Secret.”

Andylynn Payne Headlines Latest From TransSensual

Andylynn Payne stars with Cliff Jensen in the second scene from the TransSensual title “TS Doctor’s Office,” titled "Doctor’s Room."

Cubbi Thompson Stars in Latest From Jules Jordan

Cubbi Thompson stars with Manuel Ferrara in the latest release from Jules Jordan.

Show More