[Ethico-philosophic and socio-legal aspects of AIDS]

The authors analyze ethico-philosophical and socio-legal problems of patients with AIDS in their relation to people they are in frequent contact with, i.e. family, relatives, sexual partners, as well as medical and paramedical staff. They deal with the problem of compulsory notification of the disease on the one hand, and of secrecy compelling for health care workers on the other hand. The potential penojudicial responsibility of subjects infected with AIDS in spreading the infection is being considered, as well as the problem of enforced diagnotic examination and hospitalization. The obligation of the doctor to provide therapeutic and preventive care to each citizen, and thus also to patients with AIDS, is being emphasized.