HIV/AIDS: Guidelines for practitioner conduct - within a legal and ethical framework

 

 

Dain van der Reyden

 

Correspondence

 

 

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PREAMBLE

The HIV/AIDS pandemic affects every sector and the very fabric of South African society and presents a challenge to every health practitioner and student¹.
As a profession and association, we accept that we need actively to deal with issues around HIV/AIDS, not only in terms of patients in our care, but also our students in training and our own colleagues. We acknowledge that whereas we need to protect ourselves against infection, we likewise need to protect the public from infection from ourselves.
Legislation and numerous regulations and protocols exist which govern the duties and responsibilities of all sectors of the public, including occupational therapy practitioners. The fundamental premise of all legislation and regulations is that the person with HIV/AIDS may under no circumstances be discriminated against and must enjoy equal rights as a citizen. These rights are enshrined in the Bill of Rights². This premise is enthusiastically endorsed by OTASA.

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References

1. The South African Medical Association (SAMA) Human Rights and Ethical guidelines on HIV: A manual for medical practitioners. Policy approved November 2001.         [ Links ]

2. Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act 108 of 1996 Chapter 2.         [ Links ]

3. Health Professions Council of South Africa - Guidelines for Management of patients with HIV infection or Aids. Booklet 8. Pretoria July 2002. (Compiled by Medical and Dental Professions Board as part of a series of 15 booklets.         [ Links ])

4. Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Disease Act 130 of 1993.         [ Links ]

5. Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998.         [ Links ]

6. Promotion of Equality and Prevention of unfair Discrimination Act 4 of 2000.         [ Links ]

7. Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993.         [ Links ]

8. National Policy for Health Act 116 of 1990 S2.         [ Links ]

9. National Education Policy Act 27 of 1996 S 3(4).         [ Links ]

10. Code of good Practice on key aspects of HIV/AIDS and Employment 7. Also, Department of Health's National Policy on Testing for HIV National Policy for Health Act 116 of 1990.         [ Links ]

11. Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998. Code of good practice on key aspects of HIV/AIDS and Employment S 9.         [ Links ]

12. World Medical AAssociation Statement on the Professional Responsibilities of Physicians Treating AIDS Patients. Adopted by the 40^th World Medical Assembly, Vienna, Austria, September 1988.         [ Links ]

 

 

Correspondence:
The Editor
SAJOT
PO Box 11695
Hatfield
Pretoria
0028
sajot@mweb.co.za