30320 Do No Harm: Ethical Conduct in HIV Care Delivery

Course overview

Discussion of ethical conduct in HIV care delivery, including common ethical pitfalls care providers may encounter, legal implications of ethics violations related to the HIV community, how to mitigate risk and avoid ethical issues when working with people living with HIV (PLWH). HIV/AIDS is a global public health concern that has claimed the lives of over 35 million individuals since the start of the epidemic. When HIV was first identified in the 1980s, it introduced many unique ethical concerns for individuals working in mental health professions. While ethical concerns were initially related mostly to the duty of professionals to warn while ensuring protection of patient privacy, ethical issues today now encompass these same issues, along with issues related to social injustice and cultural competence. Nurses and other healthcare providers who care for people living with HIV and/or AIDS (PLWHA) must apply and have a solid understanding of professional values, moral principles, and ethical standards in order to be able to effectively relate to and provide care for these individuals. This program discusses common ethical dilemmas that may be encountered in healthcare settings, legal implications of ethics violations, and how to mitigate risk and avoid ethical issues when working with PLWHA.