AIDS patients' confidentiality<\/p>\n
Patient confidentiality is still a big problem in Indonesia. I
\ncan say this after having read Across the Archipelago on Dec. 22,
\n1999 about AIDS patients in Soetomo General Hospital in Surabaya.
\nIn that short news item, the name of an AIDS patient who had died
\nwas clearly mentioned. I don't know from whom the journalist got
\nthe patient's name, but I regret that it was made public.<\/p>\n
Unlike any other disease, there is still a stigma and
\ndiscrimination strongly attached to having HIV\/AIDS. When people
\nhave a disease like cancer or a heart problem or even infectious
\nhepatitis, they are warmly embrace by family and friends. But
\nwhen somebody is known to be HIV positive, the consequences can
\nbe the opposite. HIV positive people around the world, including
\nin Indonesia, have suffered from many forms of stigmatization and
\ndiscrimination. They are thrown out of their home, disowned by
\nparents, fired from their job, their belongings burned and their
\nfamily isolated from the community.<\/p>\n
That is why confidentiality has become important in HIV\/AIDS
\ncases. The ethical code of doctors instructs them to respect a
\npatient's confidentiality even after the patient dies.
\nJournalists have such principles, too. The National AIDS Strategy
\ndeveloped in 1994 clearly states that a HIV test should be done
\nwith informed consent, and its result should be confidential.
\nHowever, the implementation these principles are poorly respected
\nand monitored.<\/p>\n
To breach the identity of an HIV positive person is very
\ninsensitive to what impact it might cause to his\/her life. And
\nmore often, the HIV positive person has to face the consequences
\nalone, without well-prepared support. One example: a couple in
\nSouth Sulawesi is forced to live like nomads for almost three
\nyears because people in the community know who they are and are
\nreluctant to rent their houses to this couple. Another couple was
\nmade to quit their jobs on the basis of bringing shame and
\ncausing fear among the other workers. All because of a breach of
\nconfidentiality.<\/p>\n
Such violations will result in increased alienation of people
\nwith HIV\/AIDS and those at risk of infection. People will not
\nseek counseling, testing, treatment and support if it means
\nfacing discrimination and other negative consequences. The
\n\"iceberg\" will grow bigger underneath, because that's where
\npeople are driven away to.<\/p>\n
We are entering the year 2000. That means HIV has been among
\nus, in Indonesia, for 13 years. Too many HIV positive people have
\nsuffered ethics violations, and their immune system is further
\nreduced because of that. If we cannot provide them with the
\nphysical or mental support that they need, the best we can do is
\nto protect them from discrimination. And by respecting
\nconfidentiality.<\/p>\n
SUZANA MURNI<\/p>\n
Chairperson<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/aids-patients-confidentiality-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }