Question

Discuss the potential controversy when considering a patient’s right to know whether a caregiver has AIDS, and the caregiver’s right to privacy and confidentiality. Consider the following: A physician cut his hand with a scalpel while he was assisting another physician. Because of the uncertainty that blood had been transferred from the physician's hand wound to the patient through an open surgical incision, he agreed to have a blood test for HIV. His blood tested positive for HIV and he withdrew himself from participation in further surgical procedures. Discuss the ethical and legal issues.

Answer 1

As per the regulations held by American Medical Association physicians infected with HIVshould abstain themselves from invoving into any procedures because of the possible risk of transmission of HIV .Otherwise ddisclose the information to the patient the seropositive status and should proceed only if there is informed consent.Certain psychological reasons makes the patients refuse treatment from healthworkers inflicted with the disease .One of the major reason is that during the course of infection the physician may lack mental as well as physical skills or they might be compromised by drug abuse.Therefore HIV infection in a health care worker should be disclosed as it is a matter of patient right.But HIV in itself isnt a risk and is just a piece of information about the person.The morale that needs to be looked upon is whether the HIV infection belong to a category which may pose threat to an individual.If the procedure which is done on the patient involve the accidental exposure to body fluids then it is a risk.in that cases informed consent need to be taken.