Question
CASE STUDY
PLEASE I NEED HELP WITH THIS .
Unprotected Sex and Patient Confidentiality For two months, Brian, who suffers from depression, has been seeing Dr A. in weekly psychotherapy sessions. Brian, who is gay, has long struggled with feelings of social rejection and with insecurity about his attractiveness; in the past year, he has also experienced the trauma of learning that he is HIV positive. Shortly after Dr A feels that he and Brian have established a strong rapport, Brian explain that he and a man he has been dating, George, have begun to have unprotected sex. Even more startling to Dr A is Brian’s stated intention not to tell George that he (Brian) is HIV – positive. Careful to avoid a judgmental tone, Dr A present the advantages of safe sex and recommends that Brian inform George. But Brian fears that either of those options would lead to his being rejected. While he does not want to harm his partner, Brian – apparently in denial – claims that unsafe sex is not very likely to transmit HIV (despite Dr A’s assertion to the contrary). Moreover, Brian reasons, HIV infection is not as bad as it used to be, since a combination of drug therapies now makes long-term survival possible for many HIV infected individuals. Dr A is deeply disturbed by Brian’s intention to continue to have unsafe sex with George without disclosing his HIV positive status to him. While Dr A is sure he would breach confidentiality (as a last resort) if a patient intended to kill an identified third party, Brian does not intend to kill his partner. Moreover, Brian and Dr A have achieved a trust that makes psychotherapy more likely to succeed, a trust that would be put at risk if Brian’s confidentiality were breached. Still, Dr A feels some obligation to protect George by warning him if Brian continues on the present course.
1 Based on the text explain why Dr A has a “duty to warn” or inform George that he is at risk for being infected with HIV, and how it may not be up to Brian to consent to Dr. A’s breach of confidentiality _______
2. If Dr. A warns George about Brian’s HIV status it will cause damage to the physician -patient relationship he has crafted with Brian. Will damage of this magnitude be enough for Dr A to end his physician patient relationship with Brian? (explain your answer why Dr A should keep Brian or stop treating him?) ______
3. According to the text one of Dr. A’s primary duties is to protect Brian’s confidentiality. Explain what you would do if you were Dr A in this scenario (1)Keep quite -(2) Offer to tell George – (3) have Brian tell George. _______