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HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS INFECTION: PHYSICIANS' RESPONSIBILITIES

A Committee Opinion on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and physician responsibility was developed by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Committee on Ethics. The committee's conclusion is that the physician's responsibility to care for patients who may have an HIV infection does not differ from the responsibility to other patients. Without minimizing the serious consequences, the opinion reiterates that the actual risk of contagion to the physician is small, given proper precautions. Elements of counseling, consent, and confidentiality are of heightened importance because of the psychological and social implications of HIV. A physician who may have an HIV infection is urged not to undertake activities that could put patients at risk without disclosure to these patients.