Europe PMC

This website requires cookies, and the limited processing of your personal data in order to function. By using the site you are agreeing to this as outlined in our privacy notice and cookie policy.

Psychosocial ethical aspects of AIDS.

Author information

Affiliations

  • 1. South Australian Health Commission.
      Authors
    • Ross MW 1
    (1 author)

ORCIDs linked to this article

Journal of Medical Ethics, 01 Jun 1989, 15(2):74-81
https://doi.org/10.1136/jme.15.2.74 PMID: 2746607 PMCID: PMC1375784

Free full text in Europe PMC

Abstract 

The psychosocial morbidity associated with HIV infection and responses to such infection may exceed morbidity associated with medical sequelae of such infection. This paper argues that negative judgements on those with HIV infection or in groups associated with such infection will cause avoidable psychological and social distress. Moral judgements made regarding HIV infection may also harm the common good by promoting conditions which may increase the spread of HIV infection. This paper examines these two lines of argument with regard to the ethical aspects of psychological bases of health care, clinical contact, public perceptions of AIDS and the comparative perspective. It is concluded that the psychosocial aspects of HIV infection impose ethical psychological, as well as medical, obligations to reduce harm and prevent the spread of infection.

Free full text 

Logo of jmedethLink to Publisher's site
J Med Ethics. 1989 Jun; 15(2): 74–81.
PMCID: PMC1375784
PMID: 2746607

Psychosocial ethical aspects of AIDS.

M W Ross
Author information Copyright and License information Disclaimer

Abstract

The psychosocial morbidity associated with HIV infection and responses to such infection may exceed morbidity associated with medical sequelae of such infection. This paper argues that negative judgements on those with HIV infection or in groups associated with such infection will cause avoidable psychological and social distress. Moral judgements made regarding HIV infection may also harm the common good by promoting conditions which may increase the spread of HIV infection. This paper examines these two lines of argument with regard to the ethical aspects of psychological bases of health care, clinical contact, public perceptions of AIDS and the comparative perspective. It is concluded that the psychosocial aspects of HIV infection impose ethical psychological, as well as medical, obligations to reduce harm and prevent the spread of infection.

Full text

Full text is available as a scanned copy of the original print version. Get a printable copy (PDF file) of the complete article (1.5M), or click on a page image below to browse page by page. Links to PubMed are also available for Selected References.
 
icon of scanned page 74
74
icon of scanned page 75
75
icon of scanned page 76
76
icon of scanned page 77
77
icon of scanned page 78
78
icon of scanned page 79
79
icon of scanned page 80
80
icon of scanned page 81
81
 

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
  • Darrow WW. Social and psychologic aspects of the sexually transmitted diseases: a different view. Cutis. 1981 Mar;27(3):307–passim. [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Bayer R, Levine C, Murray TH. Guidelines for Confidentiality in Research on AIDS. AIDS Res. 1983 1984;1(4):275–297. [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Douglas CJ, Kalman CM, Kalman TP. Homophobia among physicians and nurses: an empirical study. Hosp Community Psychiatry. 1985 Dec;36(12):1309–1311. [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Sinclair K, Ross MW. Consequences of decriminalization of homosexuality: a study of two Australian states. J Homosex. 1985 Fall;12(1):119–127. [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Skrabanek P. Preventive medicine and morality. Lancet. 1986 Jan 18;1(8473):143–144. [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Richards T. "Don't tell me on a Friday". Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1986 Apr 5;292(6525):943–943. [Europe PMC free article] [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Hume K. AIDS: a Judaeo Christian approach. Aust Fam Physician. 1986 Jan;15(1):13–16. [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Dickerson JW. Ethical problems in the advancement of medical technology. J R Soc Health. 1988 Jun;108(3):86–89. [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Hirsch DA, Enlow RW. The effects of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome on gay lifestyle and the gay individual. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1984;437:273–282. [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Ross MW, Cameron AS. Epidemiology of AIDS retrovirus in South Australia. Med J Aust. 1986 May 26;144(11):614–615. [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Ross MW. The relationship of perceived societal hostility, conformity, and psychological adjustment in homosexual males. J Homosex. 1978 Winter;4(2):157–168. [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Frances RJ, Wikstrom T, Alcena V. Contracting AIDS as a means of committing suicide. Am J Psychiatry. 1985 May;142(5):656–656. [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Korcok M. AIDS hysteria: a contagious side effect. CMAJ. 1985 Dec 15;133(12):1241–1248. [Europe PMC free article] [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Viola LA, Barrison IG, Coleman JC, Paradinas FJ, Fluker JL, Evans BA, Murray-Lyon IM. Natural history of liver disease in chronic hepatitis B surface antigen carriers. Survey of 100 patients from Great Britain. Lancet. 1981 Nov 21;2(8256):1156–1159. [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Weller I. ABC of sexually transmitted diseases. Viral hepatitis. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1984 Jan 7;288(6410):47–49. [Europe PMC free article] [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
  • Baird PJ. Serological evidence for the association of papillomavirus and cervical neoplasia. Lancet. 1983 Jul 2;2(8340):17–18. [Abstract] [Google Scholar]
Articles from Journal of Medical Ethics are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

Full text links 

Read article at publisher's site: https://doi.org/10.1136/jme.15.2.74

Read article for free, from open access legal sources, via Unpaywall: https://jme.bmj.com/content/medethics/15/2/74.full.pdfUnpaywall

Citations & impact 

Impact metrics

6
Citations
Jump to Citations

Citations of article over time

Article citations

Go to all (6) article citations

Similar Articles 

To arrive at the top five similar articles we use a word-weighted algorithm to compare words from the Title and Abstract of each citation.