AIDS and HIPAA

[texas_lvn]

Ok, guys, I have got a doozy for you! When I was in clinicals (2 years ago), my sisters best friend's husband founf out he had full blown AIDS. The family told everyone he had bone Ca, and that is why he was in the hospital so much. Well, bf told sis, and sis told me. She was scared because they had been married for almost 2 yrs not using protection. Well, one night, before they found out, bf had a really bad mensing accident all over her skirt at a club. They went to br and hand washed skirt. Bf didnt want to wear skirt, and so sis wore skirt with some tiny blood spots still on it (I guess in places you could not see.)

So, before I attended clinicals, I found out about the Aids. I did not have him as a pt, but someone in the clinical group did, so I would have found out about the aids.

So, my hypothetical question to you is this: if sis had not known, would you want to tell her or would you respect the HIPAA guidelines and keep mouth shut. We are talking about bfs who share intimate things, have played "spin the bottle" and so on and so forth. What would you do?

THIS IS A HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION.

[AtlantaRN, RN]

Why wouldn't this be in the patients history? if he had been at the facility previously...

just a thought. but we use "universal precautions" on everyone...

we treat everyone like they are infected to protect ourselves

[texas_lvn]

I guess I am asking would you tell sister. She has no medical background and wouldn't need to know about hx. (Except to protect herself and not kiss, wear previously bloody cloths, ect.)

[TazziRN, RN]

I know it's hard, but I would have kept quiet, only because there would be no way of warning your sis without divulging who the pt was.

Atlanta, go back and read the OP again. I think you misunderstood.

[texas_lvn]

Thanks for the replies. Keep them coming.