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Running Head: ETHICS AND LEGAL ISSUES IN HEALTH CARE 1

ETHICS AND LEGAL ISSUES IN HEALTH CARE 2

Ethics and legal issues in healthcare

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Patients and caregivers

The caregiver might have HIV and is taking care of a patient. The patient does not have the right to know that the caregiver is suffering from the disease. This is because the caregiver has the right to privacy and confidentiality. The caregivers are expected to be very cautious when handling the patients to avoid the risk of their patients contacting other diseases when they are taking care of them. The caregiver would also not be comfortable treating a patient who already knows that they have HIV. The caregiver should make sure that the patient is safe and assure the patient that they don't have to worry about anything about her health (Lachman, 2009).

In case a patient contracts HIV from the caregiver due to an accident that might have occurred, the caregiver should have to explain why it happened that way. The caregiver knowing that he has HIV should take the step of giving the patient the anti-HIV treatment before 74 hours are over to make sure that the patient does not contract the disease. For the confidentiality and privacy of the caregiver to be maintained, the caregiver has to assure the patient that he will take full responsibility and care to ensure that nothing goes wrong. The patient is also allowed to take a benefit of the doubt and seek advice from other health personnel within a short period so that he can get advice about what step to take (Leathard et al., 2007).

References

Lachman, V. D. (2009). Ethical challenges in health care: Developing your moral compass. Springer Publishing Company.

Leathard, A., Goodinson-McLaren, S., & McLaren, S. (2007). Ethics: Contemporary challenges in health and social care. Policy Press.