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Rights of Patients with HIV/AIDS: A Nursing Perspective

Received: 2 November 2016    Accepted: 17 November 2016    Published: 18 January 2017
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Abstract

Introduction: Patient rights, as part of fundamental human rights, are protected and guaranteed both by international and national legislation. Individual rights of a patient are concerned with privacy and freedom protection and are also covered by urban and penal legislation provisions. With regard to health care, patient rights are closely connected to specific policies which include the administration and organisation of health care provision. Aim: The purpose of this position paper is to outline nursing deontology and patients’ rights by discussing critically the case of confidentiality and consent of individuals with HIV/AIDS and related issues involved. Method: A critical debate is undertaken using resources from national and international literature. Results and Discussion: The results of this critical discussion paper are organized in six distinct sections which cover holistically the topic under debate, as follows: Nurses and individuals; Nurse and practice; The current situation in Greece; Patient consent with HIV/AIDS; Medical confidentiality and HIV/AIDS and Ethical implications of HIV/AIDS patients in hospital. This typology ensures that a true nursing perspective is presented regarding the rights of patients with HIV/AIDS both nationally and internationally. In this respect, it was deemed essential that results of this paper incorporate discussion as well as part of a critical comprehensive overview of a complex and challenging health care topic. Conclusions: The ethical, legal and moral dilemmas regarding patients with HIV/AIDS remain controversial and challenging. Respect for patients' confidentiality is a fundamental principle in medical ethics, and also a legal duty that health care providers owe to all their patients. However, the respect of absolute confidentiality has been subject of debate particularly in the case of patients with HIV/AIDS. Currently in Greece, disclosing one's HIV/AIDS status is particularly difficult because the condition is still negatively associated with homo-sexuality or particularly promiscuous behavior. This can bring extra stigma and discrimination against patients infected with HIV/AIDS irrespective of its cause.

Published in International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science (Volume 2, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20160204.13
Page(s) 36-41
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

HIV/AIDS Infection, Patient Rights, Health Legislation

References
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[10] Greek Presidential Decree, (2001) Nursing Deontology Code, 25/7/2001;167: 2531-2542.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Dimitrios Theofanidis, Antigoni Fountouki. (2017). Rights of Patients with HIV/AIDS: A Nursing Perspective. International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science, 2(4), 36-41. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20160204.13

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    ACS Style

    Dimitrios Theofanidis; Antigoni Fountouki. Rights of Patients with HIV/AIDS: A Nursing Perspective. Int. J. HIV/AIDS Prev. Educ. Behav. Sci. 2017, 2(4), 36-41. doi: 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20160204.13

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    AMA Style

    Dimitrios Theofanidis, Antigoni Fountouki. Rights of Patients with HIV/AIDS: A Nursing Perspective. Int J HIV/AIDS Prev Educ Behav Sci. 2017;2(4):36-41. doi: 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20160204.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20160204.13,
      author = {Dimitrios Theofanidis and Antigoni Fountouki},
      title = {Rights of Patients with HIV/AIDS: A Nursing Perspective},
      journal = {International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science},
      volume = {2},
      number = {4},
      pages = {36-41},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20160204.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20160204.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijhpebs.20160204.13},
      abstract = {Introduction: Patient rights, as part of fundamental human rights, are protected and guaranteed both by international and national legislation. Individual rights of a patient are concerned with privacy and freedom protection and are also covered by urban and penal legislation provisions. With regard to health care, patient rights are closely connected to specific policies which include the administration and organisation of health care provision. Aim: The purpose of this position paper is to outline nursing deontology and patients’ rights by discussing critically the case of confidentiality and consent of individuals with HIV/AIDS and related issues involved. Method: A critical debate is undertaken using resources from national and international literature. Results and Discussion: The results of this critical discussion paper are organized in six distinct sections which cover holistically the topic under debate, as follows: Nurses and individuals; Nurse and practice; The current situation in Greece; Patient consent with HIV/AIDS; Medical confidentiality and HIV/AIDS and Ethical implications of HIV/AIDS patients in hospital. This typology ensures that a true nursing perspective is presented regarding the rights of patients with HIV/AIDS both nationally and internationally. In this respect, it was deemed essential that results of this paper incorporate discussion as well as part of a critical comprehensive overview of a complex and challenging health care topic. Conclusions: The ethical, legal and moral dilemmas regarding patients with HIV/AIDS remain controversial and challenging. Respect for patients' confidentiality is a fundamental principle in medical ethics, and also a legal duty that health care providers owe to all their patients. However, the respect of absolute confidentiality has been subject of debate particularly in the case of patients with HIV/AIDS. Currently in Greece, disclosing one's HIV/AIDS status is particularly difficult because the condition is still negatively associated with homo-sexuality or particularly promiscuous behavior. This can bring extra stigma and discrimination against patients infected with HIV/AIDS irrespective of its cause.},
     year = {2017}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Rights of Patients with HIV/AIDS: A Nursing Perspective
    AU  - Dimitrios Theofanidis
    AU  - Antigoni Fountouki
    Y1  - 2017/01/18
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20160204.13
    T2  - International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science
    JF  - International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science
    JO  - International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science
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    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20160204.13
    AB  - Introduction: Patient rights, as part of fundamental human rights, are protected and guaranteed both by international and national legislation. Individual rights of a patient are concerned with privacy and freedom protection and are also covered by urban and penal legislation provisions. With regard to health care, patient rights are closely connected to specific policies which include the administration and organisation of health care provision. Aim: The purpose of this position paper is to outline nursing deontology and patients’ rights by discussing critically the case of confidentiality and consent of individuals with HIV/AIDS and related issues involved. Method: A critical debate is undertaken using resources from national and international literature. Results and Discussion: The results of this critical discussion paper are organized in six distinct sections which cover holistically the topic under debate, as follows: Nurses and individuals; Nurse and practice; The current situation in Greece; Patient consent with HIV/AIDS; Medical confidentiality and HIV/AIDS and Ethical implications of HIV/AIDS patients in hospital. This typology ensures that a true nursing perspective is presented regarding the rights of patients with HIV/AIDS both nationally and internationally. In this respect, it was deemed essential that results of this paper incorporate discussion as well as part of a critical comprehensive overview of a complex and challenging health care topic. Conclusions: The ethical, legal and moral dilemmas regarding patients with HIV/AIDS remain controversial and challenging. Respect for patients' confidentiality is a fundamental principle in medical ethics, and also a legal duty that health care providers owe to all their patients. However, the respect of absolute confidentiality has been subject of debate particularly in the case of patients with HIV/AIDS. Currently in Greece, disclosing one's HIV/AIDS status is particularly difficult because the condition is still negatively associated with homo-sexuality or particularly promiscuous behavior. This can bring extra stigma and discrimination against patients infected with HIV/AIDS irrespective of its cause.
    VL  - 2
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Author Information
  • Nursing Department, Alexandreio Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

  • Blood Bank Department, St Paul’s Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece

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