title: Legal implications of treating patients with HIV.
abstract: The status of a patient with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) often has significant impact on a physician's willingness and ability to provide quality medical care. A physician may face substantial penalties for refusing to treat a patient with HIV. Even the referral of a patient with HIV to a specialist in the disease may constitute a discriminatory act. The law provides certain guidelines which, if followed, may help keep the physician out of the courtroom.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katine
mesh_terms: D015658:HIV Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007883:Legislation, Medical / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D016365:Liability, Legal; D010819:Physician's Role; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014481:United States