Should it be mandatory for physician to tell your spouse that you have HIV?

I believe the patient should have the right to either tell the spouse or not.However,if the patient tries to pass it on,then that becomes assault(knowingly passing the virus onto others) and the patient should be charged. I realize this can create alot of problems whereby the spouse may try to "get even" with the other,but the rights of an individual have to be looked at and until that law is changed,then doctors can not tell spouses without the patient's approval.

Yes, I think it should be mandatory for the physician to tell the spouse that they have HIV. But because of patient/doctor privelge, it won't happen.

A physician is required by law to report a gunshot wound. Why is this any different?

I would have to say there are some things that a spouse would have the right to know and that would be one of them, if they do not know they are putting their life at risk and that is not fair.

That is a hard question. Of course ther spouse has the right to know this. SInce this may affect their life,and even be fatal. The medical field is crippled to a certain extent by HIPPA laws,in some instances they end up being a liability. We do need our privact protedted,there is no doubt,but in a case like this any person in a relationship with this deserves to know this.

nurse i appriciate u good dicussion

nurse i appriciate u good dicussion

I think that the doctors should be able to tell spouses about any STD especially HIV. The partner has a right to know that they may also possibly be infected. I think that they should insist that the person tells them and have a follow up visit with the partner. It isn't right that people should be able to keep such a secret especially when their partners life may be in danger also. If the partner isn't already infected that that person could be looking at a lawsuit if they infect them after they already know of the disease.

Hey crazynurse, isn't HIV one of those things tracked by the public health people that have to be reported. So all partners can be tracked down and reported. I would think the doctor would be scared to tell a spouse, figuring they might be held responsible for the murder of the person with the disease. Yes, you are right though, the spouse should be notified and in a case like this, to me it would be an absolute.