A surgeon with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: a threat to patient safety? The case of William H. Behringer.
A year ago, the New Jersey case of William H. Behringer, the surgeon with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), caused health experts to focus on health care workers infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and to call for new policies and guidelines to protect patients against infection. After a year of acrimonious debate over the proper approach to the issues discussed in Behringer, no consensus has emerged. The Centers for Disease Control has quietly abandoned its plan to ease its July 1991 guidelines that call for infected professionals to cease performing invasive procedures or disclose their conditions to their patients. It has now decided to let each state set its own rules and regulations in compliance with its guidelines, or risk financial penalties. The issues discussed in Behringer have remained controversial. This case provides an opportunity to identify reasonable actions that may ensure patient safety without inciting public fears, unduly restricting individual freedom, or violating human rights.
Shuster
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Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA.
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D000328:Adult; D000574:American Medical Association; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D017007:Duty to Warn / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008297:Male; D009515:New Jersey; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010820:Physicians / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014481:United States