HIV TESTING AND INFORMED CONSENT - ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

One of the authors (T.J.) was invited by the AIDS Advisory Group to form a widely representative committee to recommend ethical guidelines concerning the extent to which HIV testing should receive informed consent. This paper presents and argues for the recommended guidelines. The question is considered with regard to a number of distinct purposes of HIV testing: the care of a patient; research; blood, tissue and organ donation; and the protection of third parties, including the health care worker. We contend that in each case there is no goad reason for the requirement of informed consent to be significantly waived.