AIDS and the ethics of medical care and treatment. Institute of Medical Ethics Working Party on the Ethical Implications of AIDS.
HIV infection and AIDS have accelerated a trend from paternalism to partnership in relationships between clinicians and patients. Partnership is based on respect for autonomy and is expressed through open dialogue; its moral aims are summed up in the concept of mutual empowerment. This has practical implications for clinical care and treatment, which are discussed here with particular reference to mental impairment or incapacity, unhelpful, harmful or unorthodox therapies, and discontinuing life-prolonging treatment.
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D026686:Beneficence; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D026706:Paternalism; D010358:Patient Participation; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D040841:Resource Allocation