Footnotes

• Editor's note Professor Pinching, Professor Higgs and Dr Boyd are guest editors of this special issue of the journal which is devoted to the subject of medical ethics, AIDS and HIV.

• Anthony J Pinching is Louis Freedman Professor of Immunology and Fellow, Department of Human Science and Medical Ethics, St Bartholomew's and The Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary & Westfield College, West Smithfield London EC1A 7BE. Roger Higgs is Professor of General Practice and Primary Care, Guy's, King's and St Thomas' School of Medicine, King's College London, Department of General Practice and Primary Care, 10, Cutcombe Road, London SE5 9RJ. Kenneth M Boyd is Senior Lecturer in Medical Ethics, Edinburgh University Medical School and Research Director, Institute of Medical Ethics.