Re:SACS accused of discussing HIV report

[Guest guest]

Dear all,

The Chandigarh SACS team openly discussing the case of a PLHA highlighted some

important issues.

Re: /message/7939

1. Regarding Confidentiality

Just because all members in the room are counsellors is no reason to

discuss a client openly or because a Positive person is open about her

status does not mean that her case can be discussed. Every human being

has a right to privacy. Breach of confidentiality is a serious issue.

Even if we dont look at this as a legal issue, the feeling of betrayal

by that individual is tremendous. The concerned person has every right

to question the breach of trust.

2. Starting ART

I notice this trend in many of our health care professionals that

because a person is eligible for ART (CD4 count less than 350) they

seem to pressurise the individual to start ART. As a counsellor i have

seen clients whose CD4 is 10 or 11 and still does not want to start

ART. ART is not an emergency drug and one has to have the comittment

to take the drugs life long and therefore it will be worth while to

allow time for the client to make that decision- a minimum of 4

sessions with the counsellor to decide on starting ART is a reasonable

time.

Magdalene Jeyarathnam

Director - Center For Counselling

18 Radhakrishnan Salai, 9th Street,

3rd Floor, Mylapore, Chennai 600 004

www.centerforcounselling.org

email- centerforcounselling@...

telephone - 044- 42080810, mobile - 9884100135

Email:counsellors_forum