Consent and HIV

Scenario 1
A newly qualified nurse is cannulating a very intoxicated patient in the Accident and Emergency department (A&E). She misses the vein on the first attempt and whilst trying again the patient moves his arm away and she stabs the end of the cannula in her finger. The nurse washes her wound out for 10 minutes under running water and then goes to speak to the charge nurse about the needlestick injury policy.

Scenario 2
A 24-year-old male has attended his local Accident and Emergency department (A&E) following a minor injury on a night out. He thinks he may have broken his ankle and is requesting an X-ray. The triage nurse also mentions that they are doing routine HIV screening for every A&E attendee and would like to know whether he would like a test.

• What should be done in the above scenarios?
• Should specific consent be needed for HIV testing?

Apply Theory (Specific Professional Healthcare Competencies + Clinical Medical Ethical Principles) to Practice in order to provide Optimal Patient-Centered Care (OPCC)

Clinical Ethics and Law, Second edition. Carolyn Johnston, Penelope Bradbury, Series editor: Janice Ryme