Disclosure of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Serostatus to the Patient; Issues for Laboratory Staff

Authors

  • Maryam Riaz Tarar Department of Pathology, Shalamar Medical & Dental College, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Tahir Naeem Department of Pathology, Shalamar Medical& Dental College, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Muhammad Ebrahim Naeem Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53685/jshmdc.v1i1.54

Keywords:

Laboratory staff, HIV serostatus, Disclosure of Result, Positive result

Abstract

Background: The disclosure of positive HIV status to a patient is not an easy task. In the developed world with established protocols for doing this, it becomes relatively simpler to present the results to the patient. In underdeveloped countries like Pakistan, it is not easy for the laboratory personnel in particular to convey such results to the patient. 

Case Presentation: The problem has been discussed in the light of two cases presenting to Shalamar Teaching Hospital. The first case is an example of “Provider referral” and the second one the “Self-referral”. At the end, recommendations are made to effectively handle the situation in an underdeveloped setup like Pakistan.

Discussion: Complete knowledge of the disease is an essential requirement for anybody from the pathology department contemplating this responsibility. In addition, all communications should be in the local language and the counselor must be able to address all the questions/concerns raised by the patients and/or their families. The counselor learns the skill more through supervised training rather than a taught course. 

Conclusion: This responsibility should be accepted only if the laboratory staff has no other option.

References

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Laurence Knott (2015) HIV Counseling.https://patient.info/doctor/hivcounselling. Accessed 23 September, 2018.

Terrence Higgins Trust. https://www.tht.org.uk/hivand-sexual-health. Accessed 23 September, 2018. 4. Pakistan Country Strategy for HIV Testing & Counseling based on situation and response analysis (2012). http://www.nacp.gov.pk. Accessed 23 September, 2018

Confidentiality - Good practice in handling patient information. General Medical Council, UK 2017.Available at www.gmc-uk.org/guidance. Accessed 23 September, 2018.

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World Health Organization. Pakistan Profile http://cfs.hivci.org/country-factsheet.html. Accessed 24 December, 2018

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Published

06/01/2019

How to Cite

1.
Riaz Tarar M, Naeem T, Naeem ME. Disclosure of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Serostatus to the Patient; Issues for Laboratory Staff. J Shalamar Med Dent Coll [Internet]. 2019 Jun. 1 [cited 2024 Dec. 24];1(1):34-6. Available from: https://journal.smdc.edu.pk/index.php/journal/article/view/54

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Section

Case Reports