Re: ethical question.
Steve's Account
Description
Collection
Title:
Re: ethical question.
Creator:
Steve's Account
Date:
7/8/1999
Text:
I'm afraid you have one of the most perplexing dilema... patient
confidentiallity vs public health.
I do know that there have been cases where attempts to purposely infect
folks with HIV has been treated as assualt with a deadly weapon.
Are you associated with a teaching hospital? They often have have pannels
who discuss medical ethics. You might be able to present your case with them.
Baring this, you might want to discuss it, in the abstract, with your local
health department. They are probably aware of the local laws...
The risk is that, once you begin to discuss it, you might be compelled to
report it by law..
From the sounds of your posting, you belive that she may be looking for
sexual contacts.. This sounds like intent and if you belive that
HIV transmission is assualt with a deadly weapon.. then you may be
an accessory to that crime...
I'm very glad I'm not faced with the same decisions you are..
(I wonder if posting it to machines that span many state jurisdictions
make you liable to all the laws that may be in effect in each of
those jurisdictions? GAD!.. I hope not!)
I think I'd talk to my own personal lawyer FIRST thing in the morning, to
see what your risk is.. they pursue ethics type issues as you can.
Steve
confidentiallity vs public health.
I do know that there have been cases where attempts to purposely infect
folks with HIV has been treated as assualt with a deadly weapon.
Are you associated with a teaching hospital? They often have have pannels
who discuss medical ethics. You might be able to present your case with them.
Baring this, you might want to discuss it, in the abstract, with your local
health department. They are probably aware of the local laws...
The risk is that, once you begin to discuss it, you might be compelled to
report it by law..
From the sounds of your posting, you belive that she may be looking for
sexual contacts.. This sounds like intent and if you belive that
HIV transmission is assualt with a deadly weapon.. then you may be
an accessory to that crime...
I'm very glad I'm not faced with the same decisions you are..
(I wonder if posting it to machines that span many state jurisdictions
make you liable to all the laws that may be in effect in each of
those jurisdictions? GAD!.. I hope not!)
I think I'd talk to my own personal lawyer FIRST thing in the morning, to
see what your risk is.. they pursue ethics type issues as you can.
Steve
Citation
Steve's Account, “Re: ethical question.,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 15, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/212025.
