Psychologists' perceptions of their duty to protect uninformed sex partners of HIV-positive clients.
The purpose of the present study was to determine whether mental health professionals would breach the confidentiality of HIV-infected patients with uninformed sex partners, and how any such disclosure would occur. Subjects read one of eight vignettes that depicted a patient who refused to disclose his viral status. Results revealed a split of opinion about breaching confidentiality and about the preferred mode for doing so. Neither diagnosis nor mode of viral transmission significantly influenced breaching decisions. Subjects demonstrated a high level of AIDS risk knowledge but only a moderate level of legal/ethical knowledge. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Simone
S J
SJ
Simone & Associates, 450 E. Pass Road, Suite3, Gulfport, MS 39507, USA.
Fulero
S M
SM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003219:Confidentiality; D017007:Duty to Warn / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011584:Psychology; D012747:Sexual Partners