O.C. PLATFORM : Problems in Warning About AIDS
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There are two potential problems with this policy:
-- Providers might tend to be less vigilant in observing full precautions with other patients.
-- Patient confidentiality could be compromised during the dispatch process.
EMS providers are obligated by their own high standard of ethical and by law, to treat all patients. In an emergency situation, data about HIV infection may be unavailable, unknown, or unable to be obtained. As such, they are the most vulnerable to transmission of an infectious disease from patient to provider.
Since any EMS patient could have a communicable disease, the only effective preventive strategy is strict observation of full universal precautions. While this procedure was well intended, it is not the best approach to insuring the safety of EMS personnel, and the patients they so ably serve.
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