Question

Cindy Chen, a 28-year-old Asian female complaining of the inability to sleep and nervousness, arrives at the office. She tested positive for HIV in 2005. Currently, she lives with her aunt and is going to school to become a phlebotomist. She has lost 20 pounds since her last visit to the clinic. She also has had a persistent cough and sore throat for the last 3 months. The physician orders a series of blood tests, including the helper T-cell test and a throat culture. Dr. Whalen asks you to send the throat culture to the reference lab for culture instead of doing a rapid strep test in the office. After drawing Cindy’s blood, you leave her lab requisition on the counter at the front of the lab while you escort her to the front office. When you return, Charlie Goodpasture is waiting to have his blood drawn for routine lab work. You notice he is glancing at the lab requisition you left on the counter. He asks you if that was Cindy Chen he saw. He also tells you that he knew Cindy from phlebotomy school and she has lost a lot of weight. Charlie asks if Cindy is sick. How should you handle this situation? What should you have done differently?

Answer 1

Patient with HIV/ AIDS has the right to confidentiality and privacy and should not disclose any information related to HIV. So if charlie asks about Cindy tell him that its not allowed to disclose patient information and its against medical ethics.

If the HIV test is positive report it to state health department and should not reveal to insurance company or others. Some states will punish the employees if the reports or results are mishandled.

Otherwise tell charlie that Cindy is not feeling well and so doing so tests to make him better. Some states require the marriage or sex partners to be notified if someone has HIV.