Information is Like a Drug

A 45-year-old, previously healthy, divorced father with two daughters died from heart failure after 45 minutes of attempted resuscitation. The reasons for his death were quite unclear. The two children, his ex-wife, and his brother were present at his death. The patient’s brother was appointed contact person for the family and the one to receive all information about the deceased. After this had been decided a close friend told the physicians that the patient had been a homosexual, and that he had chosen to keep this a secret. except from his former wife. It had been important for him to hide his homosexuality because he had an open professional life and was living in a small community. Presently, he had had no known sexual partner. At the time of the CEC conference the doctors knew that the patient was HIV positive.

• How much of the facts should be communicated and to whom?
• Should the HIV results be given to the family representative?
• Is this in the patient’s best interests?

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

J Med Ethics 2005;31:73–77. doi: 10.1136/jme.2003.003954