Dr. A says he will break patient confidentiality if Brian P. had the intentions of killing George S. Either way the disease can be given to george S. and I feel Dr. A should do something to inform George S. regardless of the set-back that will occur by breaking confidentiality. The fact that this disease can and eventually will kill George S. if it is transmitted overrides patient confidentiality. Dr. A should continue to tell Brian P. that he should inform his partner. if this does not work then he should tell Brian that he will have to break confidentiality and inform George S. If Brian knows Dr. A will do this he may be more likely to tell george himself.
1. Yes, I do believe physcians have a duty to warn that overrides patient obligation. George S.'s life has the potential to be negatively affected forever. Since it is apparent Brian is not going to tell him, and even further he doesn't think there's anything wrong with not telling him, it is the duty of the rational doctor to tell the partner. 2. This case is a great example of when this duty is needed. it is apparent Brian is not in the correct state of mind if he claims unprotected sex is not a likely way to pass HIV and that HIV "isn't that bad." Therefore the doctor must inform George of the situation. 3. The doctor must tell George. If not, he is lying by omission and should be held accountable. Brian may claim that the doctor broke confidentiality, however Brian should have told George himself in the first place. It is immoral to have unprotected sex with someone and knowingly not diclose if you're HIV positive.
I do believe that healthcare professionals have a duty to warn that may override their confidentiality agreement with their patients. In this case, I don't know that Dr. A necessarily needs to breach confidentiality in order to warn the endangered party. Perhaps he could sit down with Brian P. and explain that he is obligated to warn his partner if Brian does not. If the patient understands that his partner will find out somehow, either from the doctor or from Brian, maybe he would be more willing to tell his partner himself. If he still does not want to tell his partner his status, I think Dr. A is obligated to step in and warn Brian's partner. In this way, the autonomy of both parties involved was respected. Brian's in that he was warned and given the chance to warn his partner himself without the doctor stepping in. Brian's partner's autonomy was respected in that he was warned of the significant risk and given the chance to protect himself.
I feel that Dr. A has an obligation to warn George of Brian's condition, as we learned today this is breaking the law. Although Brian is not intentionally trying to harm George, he is putting his life in jeopardy. While HIV is manageable, George has not chosen that lifestyle for himself and should not be forced on him if it were an option to not be. For instance if I get 4 friends and play russian roulette with a gun i tell them is empty, I am not trying to kill anyone. If I put the bullet in the gun and do not tell my friends about it, then I am responsible for whatever happens to them.
I agree with all other statements: this is definitely a (long-term) life or death situation, and Dr. A is obligated to inform George S. However, I think he should be open with Brian P about what he must do and why and before Dr. A does anything suggest that Brian P tell George S himself (and make sure he does). Dr. A could also offer to get Brain P in touch with some success stories of relationships lasting when one partner is HIV+.
1) I definitely believe that health professionals have the duty to warn that overrides their confidentiality agreement. It's important to maintain a patients trust, but the if something were to happen that could have been prevented, the health care professional may be held responsible. 2)Yes, I think this case is a good example of overriding patient confidentiality. It is clear that Brian is putting his partner at risk and has no plans to change his behavior, because he doesn't think what he is doing is wrong. 3) Dr A has the responsibility in this case to break the confidentiality of the patient and inform Brian's partner of Brian's disease. Dr A could be held partially responsible for being aware of Brian's condition and not telling George. George is partially at fault too though for having unprotected sex without making sure that Brian was HIV-.
I feel that Dr. A has a right to warn as well as a right to keep his pt. - Dr. confidentiality. I would say that he should keep his confidentiality for the sake of not running Brian P. off and shutting him down from telling his feels, but then again if he is HIV positive and is having unprotected sex, then he is putting other people at harm. This would go along with the conversation we had in class where if someone had a plan to kill someone, then they Dr. has a right to let someone know the plan. Althoguh he is not killing or planning on killing anyone, he is putting other people are risk and that includes their health and they have the right to know. I believe that Dr. A needs to try one more time to talk to Brian about telling his partner and if he feels he is not getting anywhere then he needs to let Brian know that he is going to inform his partner George.
I agree with what Colleen said. I do believe that healthcare professionals have a duty to warn, but I'm not sure that this situation is at the same level as someone with a plan to kill someone. I think that though since Brian is clearly in denial about the consequences of his actions for his partner, that his partner needs to be informed.
I wouldn't say that health professionals have a "duty" to inform the partners of HIV patients' partners. Breaking that patient confidentiality would threaten the relationship Dr. A has built with his patient. If the Doctors feel like they have a moral responsability to inform the other partner, by all means go for it. Dr. A doesn't have to do anything, but based on this case and Brian's denial and miseducation about HIV, if i were Dr. A i would make an anonomus phone call to George to inform him that he has been identified as being at risk for HIV infection. Or maybe contact George's primary Physican so that he can encourage him to get tested and use safer sex practices.
Dr. A says he will break patient confidentiality if Brian P. had the intentions of killing George S. Either way the disease can be given to george S. and I feel Dr. A should do something to inform George S. regardless of the set-back that will occur by breaking confidentiality.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that this disease can and eventually will kill George S. if it is transmitted overrides patient confidentiality. Dr. A should continue to tell Brian P. that he should inform his partner. if this does not work then he should tell Brian that he will have to break confidentiality and inform George S. If Brian knows Dr. A will do this he may be more likely to tell george himself.
1. Yes, I do believe physcians have a duty to warn that overrides patient obligation. George S.'s life has the potential to be negatively affected forever. Since it is apparent Brian is not going to tell him, and even further he doesn't think there's anything wrong with not telling him, it is the duty of the rational doctor to tell the partner.
ReplyDelete2. This case is a great example of when this duty is needed. it is apparent Brian is not in the correct state of mind if he claims unprotected sex is not a likely way to pass HIV and that HIV "isn't that bad." Therefore the doctor must inform George of the situation.
3. The doctor must tell George. If not, he is lying by omission and should be held accountable. Brian may claim that the doctor broke confidentiality, however Brian should have told George himself in the first place. It is immoral to have unprotected sex with someone and knowingly not diclose if you're HIV positive.
I do believe that healthcare professionals have a duty to warn that may override their confidentiality agreement with their patients. In this case, I don't know that Dr. A necessarily needs to breach confidentiality in order to warn the endangered party. Perhaps he could sit down with Brian P. and explain that he is obligated to warn his partner if Brian does not. If the patient understands that his partner will find out somehow, either from the doctor or from Brian, maybe he would be more willing to tell his partner himself. If he still does not want to tell his partner his status, I think Dr. A is obligated to step in and warn Brian's partner. In this way, the autonomy of both parties involved was respected. Brian's in that he was warned and given the chance to warn his partner himself without the doctor stepping in. Brian's partner's autonomy was respected in that he was warned of the significant risk and given the chance to protect himself.
ReplyDeleteI feel that Dr. A has an obligation to warn George of Brian's condition, as we learned today this is breaking the law. Although Brian is not intentionally trying to harm George, he is putting his life in jeopardy. While HIV is manageable, George has not chosen that lifestyle for himself and should not be forced on him if it were an option to not be. For instance if I get 4 friends and play russian roulette with a gun i tell them is empty, I am not trying to kill anyone. If I put the bullet in the gun and do not tell my friends about it, then I am responsible for whatever happens to them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all other statements: this is definitely a (long-term) life or death situation, and Dr. A is obligated to inform George S. However, I think he should be open with Brian P about what he must do and why and before Dr. A does anything suggest that Brian P tell George S himself (and make sure he does). Dr. A could also offer to get Brain P in touch with some success stories of relationships lasting when one partner is HIV+.
ReplyDelete1) I definitely believe that health professionals have the duty to warn that overrides their confidentiality agreement. It's important to maintain a patients trust, but the if something were to happen that could have been prevented, the health care professional may be held responsible.
ReplyDelete2)Yes, I think this case is a good example of overriding patient confidentiality. It is clear that Brian is putting his partner at risk and has no plans to change his behavior, because he doesn't think what he is doing is wrong.
3) Dr A has the responsibility in this case to break the confidentiality of the patient and inform Brian's partner of Brian's disease. Dr A could be held partially responsible for being aware of Brian's condition and not telling George. George is partially at fault too though for having unprotected sex without making sure that Brian was HIV-.
I feel that Dr. A has a right to warn as well as a right to keep his pt. - Dr. confidentiality. I would say that he should keep his confidentiality for the sake of not running Brian P. off and shutting him down from telling his feels, but then again if he is HIV positive and is having unprotected sex, then he is putting other people at harm. This would go along with the conversation we had in class where if someone had a plan to kill someone, then they Dr. has a right to let someone know the plan. Althoguh he is not killing or planning on killing anyone, he is putting other people are risk and that includes their health and they have the right to know. I believe that Dr. A needs to try one more time to talk to Brian about telling his partner and if he feels he is not getting anywhere then he needs to let Brian know that he is going to inform his partner George.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Colleen said. I do believe that healthcare professionals have a duty to warn, but I'm not sure that this situation is at the same level as someone with a plan to kill someone. I think that though since Brian is clearly in denial about the consequences of his actions for his partner, that his partner needs to be informed.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say that health professionals have a "duty" to inform the partners of HIV patients' partners. Breaking that patient confidentiality would threaten the relationship Dr. A has built with his patient. If the Doctors feel like they have a moral responsability to inform the other partner, by all means go for it. Dr. A doesn't have to do anything, but based on this case and Brian's denial and miseducation about HIV, if i were Dr. A i would make an anonomus phone call to George to inform him that he has been identified as being at risk for HIV infection. Or maybe contact George's primary Physican so that he can encourage him to get tested and use safer sex practices.
ReplyDelete