RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Infectious health care workers: should patients be told?
JF Journal of Medical Ethics
JO J Med Ethics
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Institute of Medical Ethics
SP 27
OP 33
DO 10.1136/jme.26.1.27
VO 26
IS 1
A1 Oliver Blatchford
A1 Sarah J O'Brien
A1 Mary Blatchford
A1 Avril Taylor
YR 2000
UL http://jme.bmj.com/content/26/1/27.abstract
AB The risk of transmission of HIV or hepatitis B from infectious health care workers to patients is low. However, inadvertent exposure causes great concern amongst patients of an infected health care worker. The patients of a Scottish dentist diagnosed hepatitis B e antigen positive were informed by letter of their exposure. A sample of patients was sent a postal questionnaire. Most (56%) respondents reported feeling anxious on receiving the letter but almost all (93%) thought patients should always be informed following treatment by an infectious health care worker, although the risk was very small. We discuss clinical and ethical factors relating to informing patients following exposure to an infectious health care worker. We suggest that a balance should be struck between patients' wishes to know of risks to which they have been exposed, however small, and the professional view that when risks are negligible, patients need not be informed.