Ethical dilemmas and AIDS: nursing issues regarding rights and obligations. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1990. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Ethical dilemmas and AIDS: nursing issues regarding rights and obligations.

Nurs Forum. 1989;24(3-4):35-46. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/90295430
Herrick CA; Smith JE; Community Mental Health Department, Mobile, AL.


Abstract: Nurses and other health professionals deal with many ethical dilemmas daily. The AIDS epidemic has generated enormous controversy affecting the care and treatment of persons with HIV infections. As the epidemic spreads, the ethical issues become more apparent. The AIDS situation highlights the precarious balance between individual rights and the public welfare, patients' rights, and the rights of nurses and their professional obligations. Ethical questions have also been raised concerning equal rights to healthcare resources. The AIDS epidemic has caused hysteria among members of our society, including some people in the nursing profession. Implications for nursing practice and education are outlined to help nurses to make ethical rather than emotional decisions.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/EPIDEMIOLOGY/*NURSING/ TRANSMISSION American Nurses' Association Confidentiality Consumer Advocacy Environmental Exposure *Ethics, Nursing Health Care Rationing Human Informed Consent Job Description Nursing Care/*STANDARDS *Patient Advocacy Professional Practice/STANDARDS Public Health United States JOURNAL ARTICLEKWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/epidemiology/KWDnursing/transmissionamericannurses'associationconfidentialityconsumeradvocacyenvironmentalexposureKWDethics,nursinghealthcarerationinghumaninformedconsentjobdescriptionnursingcare/KWDstandardsKWDpatientadvocacyprofessionalpractice/standardspublichealthunitedstatesjournalarticle
901030
M90A0663

Copyright © 1990 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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