title: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: the nurse's legal duty to serve.
abstract: Some nurses are reluctant to care for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected clients because of fear of contagion and discomfort in caring for people with alternate life-styles. Various federal, state, and local antidiscrimination statutes limit the right of the nurse to refuse to care for people with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or HIV infection. Other constraints are employment contracts, ethical codes of professional organizations, and regulations of state licensing boards. Nurses have rights as well as responsibilities in caring for AIDS or HIV-infected patients. They also have a professional responsibility to institute measures that minimize the need for litigation and ensure access to health care for everyone.
authors.affiliation: City College of New York School of Nursing, New York.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Downes
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000451:nursing*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004651:Employment / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D035082:Federal Government; D033161:Government Regulation; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008008:Licensure, Nursing; D028681:Moral Obligations; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000592:standards; D016079:Refusal to Treat / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014481:United States