title: [Confidentiality in HIV-infection/AIDS--a comment on the Communicable Disease Control Act].
abstract: The new Communicable Diseases Control Act has come into force in Norway. It makes it compulsory for a physician to warn a third party if it is obvious that a HIV-positive patient, with a high degree of certainty, puts the third party at risk of being infected with HIV. Some philosophers characterize medical confidentiality as an intransigent and absolute obligation, others as a prima facie duty. This article supports the latter view, but the author still argues that strict conditions have to be fulfilled before a physician should consider breaking medical confidentiality: The doctor must try repeatedly to gain the consent or co-operation of the patient involved. Possible negative long-term consequences for the preventive HIV-work support strict medical confidentiality.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Frich
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003219:Confidentiality; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology
vernacular_title: Taushetsplikten ved HIV-smitte/AIDS--en kommentar til smittevernloven.