What are ethical considerations for clients diagnosed with HIV infection?

Many of the ethical issues that confront us in the context of AIDS are not new. However, the AIDS pandemic has given a sharp focus to issues such as confidentiality, discrimination, access to health care, prenatal testing/abortion and the conduct of clinical/vaccine trials.

Can counselors disclose HIV status?

Counselors adhere to relevant state laws concerning disclosure about disease status. ACA Code of Ethics of 2014 is one of the few codes that address the issue of contagious or communicable diseases, such as HIV/AIDS.

Do you legally have to disclose HIV?

Thanks to California Senate Bill 329, as of January 1, 2017, it is no longer a felony for people who are HIV-positive to have unprotected sex and not disclose their status.

What does the ACA code of ethics say about diagnosis?

The American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics, Section E, requires counselors to take special care in providing the proper diagnosis of mental disorders in the proper manner. Avoiding public statements that label an individual with a mental disorder is in the best interest of the public.

Who has a duty to warn?

Duty to warn gives counselors and therapists the right and obligation to breach confidentiality if they believe a client poses a risk to another person. It also protects clinicians from prosecution for breach of confidentiality if they have reasonable suspicion that the client might be a danger to himself or others.

What is the ACA code of ethics of 2014?

ACA Code of Ethics of 2014 is one of the few codes that address the issue of contagious or communicable diseases, such as HIV/AIDS. Unlike almost all other codes it gives therapists some guidelines in regard to confidentiality and disclosures. 1. Primary Responsibility

What are the ethics of treatment of clients with HIV/AIDS?

This document is a part of an online course on Ethics of Treatment of Clients with HIV/AIDS. It focuses on the sections of the Codes of Ethics of the major professional organizations that deal with issues of confidentiality and reporting as they related to limits of confidentiality regarding harm due to infection to a third party.

What does AAMFT code of ethics say about AIDS?

Note: AAMFT Code of Ethics does not mention any direct reference to AIDS, HIV, or to contagious or communicable disease. It does not refer to situations when clients are dangerous to others and only mentions that disclosures may be legally required. B.2.

Is breaking confidentiality in clients with AIDS an ethical dilemma?

Breaking Confidentiality in Clients with AIDS: An Ethical Dilemma Counselors working with clients who have been diagnosed with communicable diseases face unique ethical dilemmas when the client has not informed specific persons at risk of contracting the disease from them.