Mandatory HIV Notification: Bioethical Concerns vs. Public Health Concerns, Health and Medical Dilemmas

The topic of mandatory HIV notification is controversial and conflicting for counselors and public health workers. Counselors may seek to maintain patient confidentiality and public health workers are concerned with combating the spread of sexually transmitted infections. Embedded between bioethical priorities and public health concern is the HIV positive patient. Thus, there exists a convoluted dichotomy between privacy and prevention; as it pertains to HIV notification for the patient, counselor and public health advocate. (The Journal of American Science. 2006;2(1):42-45).