Query about the ethics of HIV testing for Children

[Guest guest]

Dear friends,

My query is to all who are concerned about people

infected and effected by HIV/AIDS. I am a clinical

psychologist and counsellor working in this field for

last seven years. Presently, I am working in one of

the cities in Rajasthan. One physician here had a

difference of openion with me. What he does is, when a

patient is tested for HIV, and if his wife is tested negative

still he advice his child to go for the test who falls

in the age group of 5-8 years without any counselling,

even when the counsellor is available just because the

parents are anxiuos.

When I confronted him about the

professional ethics of this practice, He asked about the

reference where we cannot advice the child for HIV test even

when the mother is tested HIV negative.

According to

the Doctor, in this part of India, especially rural

areas, there are higher incidences of child being

breast fed by any woman other than the mother and that

too without the knowledge of the mother. And many a

times, the report could be false negative, he

says. He is not aware about the H/o of child for blood

transfusion or sexual abuse.

My question to all is how

far this is ethical? Please support your answers with

references.

With Regards,

Trupti Desai

E-mail: <truptid_69@...>

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