Dentists' HIV-related ethicality: an empirical test

This article attempts to determine to what extent, in the context of treating HIV+ patients, a sample of New York dentists has attitudes, opinions, experiences, and reported behaviors which are consistent with the core ethical principle that "the dentist's primary professional obligation shall be service to the public." The article explores and reports differences in these characteristics in two groups of dentists, one strongly agreeing that dentists are ethically obligated to treat HIV+ patients and one strongly disagreeing with the same proposition. Acceptance of extra exposure to risk among health professionals seems not to be as pervasive as it once was. Conspicuous differences in perceived risk, safety, and potential loss of income associated with HIV, as well as concerns about treating homosexuals, are apparent between the two groups of dentists mentioned above.