Human immunodeficiency virus-infected health care workers: the restoration of professional authority. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1996. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Human immunodeficiency virus-infected health care workers: the restoration of professional authority.

Arch Fam Med. 1996 Feb;5(2):102-6. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/96180056
Burris S; Temple University of School of Law, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Abstract: During the first years of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic, the professional limitation on HIV-infected physicians and other health care workers were left to the discretion of the infected workers themselves and the medical institutions in which they worked. In the crisis occasioned by the report of iatrogenic infection in a Florida dental practice, the legal system was expected to develop mandatory standards for the management of an estimated 50 000 American health care workers with HIV. Evaluation of the legal developments of the past 3 years, including state practice guidelines, tort law, and disability discrimination law, suggests that judges and regulators have been unwilling or unable to set a binding standard. This offers the medical profession a second chance to formulate and educate the public about a socially responsible, nonrestrictive policy.
Keywords: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient/*LEGISLATION & JURISPRUD/PREVENTION & CONTROL Health Personnel/*LEGISLATION & JURISPRUD Human HIV Infections/PREVENTION & CONTROL/*TRANSMISSION Liability, Legal Occupational Health/*LEGISLATION & JURISPRUD Personnel, Hospital/LEGISLATION & JURISPRUD United States JOURNAL ARTICLEKWDcentersfordiseasecontrolandprevention(uKWDsKWD)diseasetransmission,professional-to-patient/KWDlegislation&jurisprud/prevention&controlhealthpersonnel/KWDlegislation&jurisprudhumanhivinfections/prevention&control/KWDtransmissionliability,legaloccupationalhealth/KWDlegislation&jurisprudpersonnel,hospital/legislation&jurisprudunitedstatesjournalarticle
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M9670472

Copyright © 1996 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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