Patient care issues in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

The AIDS epidemic challenges practitioners to examine all aspects of the patient-physician relationship, including forms of interpersonal communication, the scope of physician responsibility, and the influence of the patient care experience on the physician's own psychological well-being. The burden of dealing with these challenges is exacerbated by the almost universally fatal outcome of this disease. Fortunately, there are many sources of information and assistance available to clinicians and their patients.