AIDS, nursing and occupational risk: an ethical analysis.
This paper examines the notion of risk assessment in relation to nursing patients with HIV infection or AIDS. Risk assessment consists in examining three features of a given hazard; its magnitude, its probability, and its acceptability. In relation to the last of these, an 'acceptability threshold' can be identified. If contact with HIV-infected patients is perceived to pass this threshold, nurses may seek to abrogate the usual 'duty to treat'. Rather than endeavour to pinpoint this threshold, the paper explores some of the factors which may either raise or lower it, and their ethical implications. In particular, the consequences of setting a high threshold, and thereby limiting or avoiding contact with patients infected with HIV, are examined. In this debate, the burden of proof is seen as resting firmly on nurses themselves, not on the patients at risk of being deprived of care.
Sim
J
J
Department of Health Sciences, Coventry Polytechnic, England.
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control; D011287:Prejudice; D016079:Refusal to Treat; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking