Transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus in the Health Care Setting -- Time for Action

Abstract

As the prevalence of HIV seropositivity has risen in certain categories of patients, and as cases have arisen of infected doctors passing the virus to their patients, occupational transmission of the HIV virus has become an issue of grave concern for both patients and physicians. Legal and ethical questions, however, block such preventive measures as mandatory testing and segregation for patients and providers, and hospitals' denial of access to HIV-infected patients. To insure the quality of care for HIV-infected patients, and to protect the rights of health care workers, Brennan suggests six measures for diminishing the fear of occupational transmission, including consideration of the costs and benefits of unsolicited patient testing, closer attention to hospital prevention policies, equal alternative employment for infected providers, hospital cooperation with litigation following occupational transmission, and a possible national insurance pool, set up with contributions from all hospitals, against expenses associated with transmission. (KIE abstract)