AIDS and confidentiality: a legal/ethical dilemma. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1992. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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AIDS and confidentiality: a legal/ethical dilemma.

J Healthc Qual. 1992 Jan-Feb;14(1):32-4. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE AHA/92369515
Haggberg MA; Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ.

Abstract: The AIDS epidemic has created difficult ethical and legal problems. A particularly acute conflict for the healthcare professional occurs when the obligation to maintain HIV-patient confidentiality is at odds with the need to protect the ignorant sexual partner from infection. In spite of counseling, the AIDS patient may continue to engage in unsafe sexual practices with partners who are unaware of the individual's HIV status. The Centers for Disease Control and medical organizations such as the American Medical Association are in general agreement that the sexual partner of an HIV-positive patient must be notified. The legal strictures regarding confidentiality, however, vary from state to state.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/ETIOLOGY Confidentiality/*LEGISLATION & JURISPRUD *Duty to Warn *Ethics, Medical Human Needle Sharing Sex Behavior United States/EPIDEMIOLOGY JOURNAL ARTICLE

KWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/KWDepidemiology/etiologyconfidentiality/KWDlegislation&jurisprudKWDdutytowarnKWDethics,medicalhumanneedlesharingsexbehaviorunitedstates/epidemiologyjournalarticle
921130
M92B0912

Copyright © 1992 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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