Ethics in Public Health

1214 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Ethic eassay

In the last three decades HIV/ AIDS has become the one of the most notorious and widely spread diseases in the modern world. Its discovery in the late seventies prompted worldwide concern. The one thing that has become the most bothersome thing about the HIV/ AIDS epidemic is prevention. Prevention or stopping the transmission of the diseases is hindered by factors such as: denial or non-acceptance by infected persons, unsafe sex, and non-disclosure by infected persons to their at risk sexual partner(s). According to Alghazo, Upton, and Cioe (2011):

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) the precursor to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is prevalent in the United States. The October 2008 Center for Disease Control (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) estimated 1,106,400 individuals residing in the United States and the District of Columbia were living with HIV. Of those living with the disease nearly 1 in 5 (21%) did not know they have it. In addition health care workers, counselors have been challenged with multiple consequences of this disease, particularly denial about the condition and self-imposed isolation.

When a person discovers they have the disease it is up to them to disclose their positive status to their sexual partner(s). The fact that the person may be married or be sexually promiscuous does not matter, that person is the only one with the right to disclose such information. One of the biggest arguments about the HIV/AIDs dilemma is centered on doctor patient confidentiality. The standpoints on this issue are vast and strong and when challenged they are met with a plethora of medical, ethical, and legal arguments.

. By law no one except that person is allowed to disclose their positive statu...

... middle of paper ...

...idged. Retrieved April 19, 2011, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ethics

Edwards, K.A. “Confidentiality”. Ethics In Medicine. University of Washington School of Medicine. 1998.Web. 17 April 2011.

Mair, J. (2009, June). Duty of Confidentiality PD v Harvey. Health Information Management Journal. Retrieved From

Murphy , T.F. (2009) When It comes to HIV Infection, Some Are M ore Equal Than Others. The Hastings Center Report. Retrieved from Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context.

Principles (n.d) Ethics In Computing. North Carolina State University. Retrieved from www.ethics.csc.ncsu.edu/basics/principles/study.php

Understanding AIDS & HIV. (n.d.). Understanding AIDS & HIV. Retrieved March 19, 2011, from http://www.understanding-aids-hiv.com

Show More
Related

  • HIPPA Violations

    1182 Words  | 3 Pages

    Disclosing confidential patient information without patient consent can happen in the health care field quite often and is the basis for many cases brought against health care facilities. There are many ways confidential information gets into the wrong hands and this paper explores some of those ways and how that can be prevented.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Autonomy In The Tuskegee Study

    1167 Words  | 3 Pages

    A basic definition of confidentiality is that information about a patient is not discussed openly (Edge and Groves, 2007). This ethical principle became an issue when the government gave medical facilities lists of people who were in the study. Again, the patients were not informed that they would not be able to

    Read More

  • Edward Koch and AIDS in New York City

    1990 Words  | 4 Pages

    Human immunodeficiency virus infection / acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a disease of the human immune system transmitted between people by the mixing of bodily fluids. It is an extremely deadly disease that has killed over thirty-six mi...

    Read More

  • The Importance Of HIPAA

    940 Words  | 2 Pages

    Without patient confidentiality, patients would not be willing to tell about themselves or their family member for fear of it getting out (tTelegraph). If they were asked

    Read More

  • Freely Accessible Birth Control for Teenagers

    960 Words  | 2 Pages

    Spink, Gemma. "AIDS." AVERTing HIV and AIDS. 23 Dec 2009. Web. 11 Jan 2010. .

    Read More

  • Confidentiality And Patient Privacy

    949 Words  | 2 Pages

    Confidentiality will always be an important component in medical discussions, but confidentiality on the other hand is not a right and has to be stable against counter claims (Chalmers, 2003). Some arguments and facts that were used in the article were how are health care providers supposed to be able to correct the stability? Should overt content always be required from clients for any use of their health care information separately from the direct clinical care? The proof suggests that where the informed consent is needed completeness of health information hurts and unfinished health ...

    Read More

  • Ethics

    772 Words  | 2 Pages

    ... has with Jasmine may be impeded if Ann discloses her HIV positive status to the group. She must also recognize that the right to privacy and confidentiality is a basic human right, which she must balance with her moral obligation to her other clients and co-workers.

    Read More

  • Ethics and Law in Dental Hygiene: Case Studies 16 and 17

    1560 Words  | 4 Pages

    Case 16 This case presents a very delicate situation that presents many legal and ethical questions. Do you tell your brother or partner he has HIV? I would tell my brother, but the how and when, may vary based on circumstances. From a professional ethical standpoint, it would be unethical to disclose the patient’s HIV status without consent.

    Read More

  • Confidentiality In Nursing Essay

    1347 Words  | 3 Pages

    Confidentiality in health care is a growing concern as nurses are often faced with the challenges of reacting to question regarding patient’s progress (McGowan, 2012). Confidentiality as defined by Gregory, Raymond-Seniuk, Patrick and Stephen (2015) is the promise given to a person that his or her personal information will not be disclosed randomly if no consent has been given regardless of who is seeking such information (p.600). This paper will attempt to explore the concept of confidentiality as a sensitive issue, challenges that nurses face as they try to protect patient’s health information and some guidelines that govern protection of information and when this information can be divulged.

    Read More

  • Confidentiality And Confidentiality In Nursing

    2424 Words  | 5 Pages

    ...y is not absolute and that the disclosure and justification of some individuals cases can potentially be successful. Moreover the person who disclosed the information will always be the person under scrutiny of the common law. Professionally, if the health care worker adhere to the policy it offers much protection for the topic of confidentiality and the correct attitude to retain information correctly.

    Read More

  • Medical Ethics

    776 Words  | 2 Pages

    Physician-assisted suicide refers to the physician acting indirectly in the death of the patient -- providing the means for death. The ethics of PAS is a continually debated topic. The range of arguments in support and opposition of PAS are vast. Justice, compassion, the moral irrelevance of the difference between killing and letting die, individual liberty are many arguments for PAS. The distinction between killing and letting die, sanctity of life, "do no harm" principle of medicine, and the potential for abuse are some of the arguments in favor of making PAS illegal. However, self-determination, and ultimately respect for autonomy are relied on heavily as principle arguments in the PAS issue.

    Read More

  • Ethical And Legal Aspects Of Hiv Disclosure

    1645 Words  | 4 Pages

    Various articles examining the ethical and legal issues surrounding the disclosure of HIV status prior to sexual relationships make evident that the disadvantages of disclosure outweigh the benefits, making clear that disclosure is unnecessary.

    Read More

  • HIV and AIDS: The Epidemic

    1638 Words  | 4 Pages

    HIV and AIDS have affected millions of people throughout the world. Since 1981, there have been 25 million deaths due to AIDS involving men, women, and children. Presently there are 40 million people living with HIV and AIDS around the world and two million die each year from AIDS related illnesses. The Center for Disease Control estimates that one-third of the one million Americans living with HIV are not aware that they have it. The earliest known case of HIV was in 1959. It was discovered in a blood sample from a man in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Looking further into the genetics of this blood sample researchers suggested that it had originated from a virus going back to the late 1940’s or early 1950’s. In 1999, researchers had discovered that HIV is derived from chimpanzees native to west equatorial Africa. This epidemic is spreading throughout countries and infecting 14 thousand victims every day. Learning about HIV includes knowing how to contract the virus, understanding most of the people it affects, how to prevent the spread of it, and knowing what treatments are available.

    Read More

  • Essay On Confidentiality

    908 Words  | 2 Pages

    Laws and regulations state there are no exceptions to disclosing information of a patient without consent. If a patient gives consent to a family member the healthcare provider may devise a code to give family members so they may confirm their identity.

    Read More

  • Preventing HIV/ AIDS

    1036 Words  | 3 Pages

    The emergence of HIV/AIDS is viewed globally as one of the most serious health and developmental challenges our society faces today. Being a lentivirus, HIV slowly replicates over time, attacking and wearing down the human immune system subsequently leading to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) at which point the affected individual is exposed to life threatening illnesses and eventual death. Despite the fact that a few instances of this disease have been accounted for in all parts of the world, a high rate of the aforementioned living with HIV are situated in either low or medium wage procuring nations. The Sub-Saharan region Africa is recognized as the geographic region most afflicted by the pandemic. In previous years, people living with HIV or at risk of getting infected did not have enough access to prevention, care and treatment neither were they properly sensitized about the disease. These days, awareness and accessibility to all the mentioned (preventive methods, care etc.) has risen dramatically due to several global responses to the epidemic. An estimated half of newly infected people are among those under age 25(The Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic). It hits hard as it has no visible symptoms and can go a long time without being diagnosed until one is tested or before it is too late to manage.

    Read More

More about Ethics in Public Health

Open Document