The need for tailored ethical guidelines in HIV/AIDS care

In the past decades, AIDS has represented one of the most significant global health challenges to mankind. Upholding ethics and respecting patients' rights play a critical role in enhancing treatment among individuals living with HIV/AIDS. This study aimed to evaluate the adequacy of ethical considerations in the HIV/AIDS care system guidelines in Iran. For this purpose, we critically reviewed the existing policies and the Anti-Stigma and Discrimination Bylaw. We extracted articles on ethical considerations and patients' rights and classified them according to the principles of bioethics and the professional responsibilities associated with medical practice. We found that the present guidelines address informed consent (except those related to childcare), confidentiality, and privacy. However, ethical issues such as capacity assessment, substitute decision-making, treatment refusal, and disclosure of diagnosis have been overlooked. Furthermore, a review of the Anti-Stigma and Discrimination Bylaw revealed a lack of guidance on non-discriminatory and equitable care for people of specific populations, such as drug users, female sex workers (SW), men who have sex with men (MSM), and healthcare workers exposed to HIV-positive patients. These findings highlight gaps and deficiencies within the guidelines in addressing the rights of healthcare recipients and emphasize the need for developing dedicated ethical guidelines for the care and support of individuals living with HIV/AIDS.