Confidentiality and HIV/AIDS in South Africa
- 1 March 2000
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Nursing Ethics
- Vol. 7 (2) , 158-166
- https://doi.org/10.1177/096973300000700209
Abstract
Keeping the diagnosis of a client confidential is one of the cornerstones of professional practice. In the case of a diagnosis such as HIV/AIDS, however, the ethics of this action may be challenged. Such a decision has a range of negative effects, for example, the blaming of others, supporting the denial of the client, and complicating the health education and care of the patient. It is suggested that the four ethical principles should be used to explore the ethics of such decisions, and that professional regulatory bodies and organizations should support professionals in situations where the client’s sexual partner is informed against the wishes of the client.Keywords
This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit:
- On visibility: AIDS, deception by patients, and the responsibility of the doctor.Journal of Medical Ethics, 1992