Psychosocial ethical aspects of AIDS.

Abstract

The psychosocial morbidity associated with HIV infection and responses to such infection may exceed morbidity associated with medical sequelae of such infection. This paper argues that negative judgements on those with HIV infection or in groups associated with such infection will cause avoidable psychological and social distress. Moral judgements made regarding HIV infection may also harm the common good by promoting conditions which may increase the spread of HIV infection. This paper examines these two lines of argument with regard to the ethical aspects of psychological bases of health care, clinical contact, public perceptions of AIDS and the comparative perspective. It is concluded that the psychosocial aspects of HIV infection impose ethical psychological, as well as medical, obligations to reduce harm and prevent the spread of infection.

AIDS-Related Beliefs and Behaviours of Students: Evidence from Two Countries (Zimbabwe and Nigeria)

“…In homosexually active adolescents, Ross (1987) reported that 26% had engaged in activities which placed them at risk from HIV infection due to lack of assertiveness and having unsafe sexual activities imposed on them. Also in adults, Ross (1988Ross ( , 1989 observed that an assertive personality style was associated with positive attitudes toward condom use. Also some experienced youngsters believed confidently that they could avoid partners likely to be infectious (Chapman and Hodgson, 1988).…”

“…AIDS has been referred to as the 'new leprosy' (Ross, 1989). However, it is clear that information alone is insufficient to change the risk behaviour of target groups (Kelly, 1990).…”

The ethical approach to AIDS: a bibliographical review.

“…After collecting the bibliographical documents, our analysis of the various themes, based on the most general articles (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34), led us to draw up the following plan: -firstly, a review of legislation (or drafted legislation) tending to protect society by preventing the spread ofthe epidemic.…”

“…-dismissal of sero-positives from the US army. -refusal of sero-positive children in public schools: several cases have been taken to court in the US (32,57,61,62,63,64,65). -exclusion from certain means of transport: in February 1985 the air company Airlines was forced by public pressure to make a ruling forbidding the transport by air of AIDS patients.…”

Confidentiality Limits With Clients Who Have HIV: A Review of Ethical and Legal Guidelines and Professional Policies

“…Research on drugs and vaccines 8. Fundamental rights of the patient Additional ethical and legal dilemmas surrounding AIDS have included (a) the relevance of ethics to AIDS (Reamer, 1991b); (b) rights of the healthy individual (Wood et al, 1990); (c) professional moralizing (Ross, 1989); (d) occupational transmission of HIV (Brennan, 1990;King, 1988;Wilson & Wingo, 1988); (e) health care financing (Blendon & Donelan, 1990;Leukefeld & Fimbres, 1987); (f) social policy (Fox, Day, & Klein, 1990;Zinberg, 1989); (g) duty to treat and suicide (Morrison, 1989); (h) euthanasia and professional burnout (Reamer, 1991a); (i) testing in chemical dependency treatment programs (Hawthorne & Slegel, 1987); (j) testing in prisons (Andrus et al, 1989); (k) exclusion policies for the military (Howe, 1989); (1) death certificate documentation (Francis & Chin, 1987;Johnson, Montano, & Wallace, 1989); (m) life-sustaining treatment (Wachter, Lute, Lo, & Raffin, 1989); (n) voluntary testing, pregnancy, and cost-containment (Grad, 1991); (o) mandatory pre-marital testing (Turnock & Kelly, 1989); and (p) psychological research (Melton, 1991). The major controversy among all the ethical literature related to AIDS continues to be centered on the balance of rights of individuals who have HIV and the right of society to protect itself against the spread of infection.…”