Clinicians and HIV infections: social policies and professional issues

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a deadly infectious virus. Relatively hard to contract, it is the causative agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Nurses and other clinicians have an important role to play in influencing national and local management of the HIV infection through review and comment on policy. Policies recommending quarantine, isolation, mandatory testing of certain populations, and vigorous public education are explored. Quarantine, isolation of seropositive individuals, and mandatory testing of certain groups are explicated in the article as unethical, unmanageable or both. Some recommendations for vigorous, specific public education are made. The importance of the participation of health professionals in public policy debates is emphasized.