In my Medical Law & Ethics class the following question was raised:
Is it ETHICAL for an HIV positive healthcare worker to retain their patient care position? Should they reveal their status to their patients? Their employers? Their coworkers? Statistically the healthcare worker is more likely to be infected by a patient (1%) than vice versa. Legally a persons status is their own business and cannot be discriminated against should they reveal their status. But we are not discussing statistics or legalities. Is it ETHICAL, that’s the question.
So please, I’m very curious to hear all opinions…but if you are NOT respectful or are insulting to another person your comment will be removed.
Thank you!
Donica
Donica Covey 
Kat Hall
February 8, 2013
Ethically, yes for keeping their position and advising their employer. As for advising their patients, no. Co-workers, no and with proper protocol in place, there should not be a chance of them getting infected. HIV positive means you only have the virus in your body and it is dormant. When it becomes active, then you have AIDS. Then that is entirely a different matter.
Allison Knight
February 9, 2013
I agree with Kat. Your employer should know because there are some times the employer might feel uncomfortable letting you work with the patient. I see no reason why, ethically, an HIV person can’t keep their job. Other than the employer, I see no reason why anyone else should know. As a medical health professional, someone with HIV should know what procedures might endanger someone. If they didn’t follow the correct procedures, then you have an ethical problem.