Question

What is your take on our media's influence both social and public aspect regarding a client’s expectations placed upon nurses and revealing HIV status?

Answer 1

The media inherently has played a role in social awareness and influencing public perception. This perception should be based on collected facts and review on ground information and present to the public for awareness and information. In the context of client's expectation of nurses media and people in general expect the nurses to take round the clock care and provide medical treatment without delay and errors. The world today is run on reviews and experiences of the clients and it influences decision to take medical care depending on that. Nurses have access to patient healthcare records and can review and positively identify the medical condition associated with the patient/client. When it comes to HIV a disease with no cure and social stigma requires utmost care and confidentiality. Keeping the confidentiality about the medical conditions and diagnosis is the basic tenet of doctor/healthcare professional and patient confidentiality and trust. So to reveal the HIV status is to public expose him/her and potentially damage & impact his life and disrupt his social status. Therefore, here media can highlight and put forth the need in term of this example and spread awareness about respecting privacy, confidentiality laws and their implementation. Here, the media can reach a wider social group and entire awareness to spread this awareness and sensitizing the people for a better tomorrow.