MANDATORY HIV TESTING James G. Anderson, Ph.D.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS What are the arguments for and against mandatory testing of health care workers? What are the arguments for and against mandatory testing of patients? How can we balance the rights of health care workers and patients to privacy and confidentiality? How do we minimize the possibility of financial harm to health care workers and patients?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Is the risk of HIV infection great enough to warrant action compared to other risks in the health care setting? Are there other risks that healthcare workers take with their patients that might cause harm? Do patients have a right to know about them? Do patients have a right to know about impaired health care workers (e.g., alcoholics, drug addicts, etc)?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Does adherence to universal precautions make the risks acceptable? Is the physician’s livelihood a major consideration? Does “informed consent” require informing patients of the risk?