Legal Issues Regarding Confidentiality and Consent in HIV Testing in Hong Kong

Abstract

"The patient was a 52-year-old male who lived with his wife and had no children. He was generally in good health prior to 2006. He was diagnosed with Burkitt’s lymphoma in 2006, which was managed by an oncologist at a major hospital in Hong Kong. In 2007, the patient displayed flu-like symptoms and was admitted to hospital. His condition deteriorated rapidly soon after admission, with reduced LOC, severe hypoxia and Type II respiratory failure. He was admitted to the intensive care unit and was intubated/ventilated. The patient’s condition worsened despite various changes in treatment. The oncologist was consulted but there was no evidence of a relapse of Burkitt’s lymphoma. At that point, the healthcare team suspected that the patient could be immunocompromised"