Human immunodeficiency virus infection confronts the law, ethics and society

The full panorama of the AIDS problem is filled with contradictions. There are those who consider the AIDS sufferers--primarily gays and intravenous drug abusers--as "the bad group". Yet, there are also innocent victims: recipients of blood and blood products and the unknowing sex partners. Regardless of the circumstances under which they contracted the disease, many AIDS sufferers are hated because they are perceived as menaces. Such feelings are triggered by raw emotions, hysteria, anxiety, insecurity, fear, even phobias and paranoia in those who do not have, and who often do not understand the disease. This frequently results in discrimination and bias that may be aggravated by scientific and societal ignorance. Education of those who do and do not have AIDS is hampered by underlying economic problems: poverty, indigence and low social status, as well as taboos regarding discussion of sex and contraception. No disease in this country has created a greater dilemma among the public or the professions concerned with and involved in its care and management, as AIDS. A study of the magnitude of the problem and its impact reveals that it is beset by a "damned if you do, and damned if you don't" result, with the bottom line ultimately involving the benefit versus risk rule. An overview of the AIDS problem reveals particular areas of medical, societal, legal and ethical-moral concern that frequently overlap.