Yikes! Privacy protection gone too far?

TazziRN, RN · May 31, 2006

No different than if he had multiple female partners. As angry as this makes us, not a lot we can do. If he contracts something that requires the involvement of the health dept, then the wife will know. Until then, all we can do is glare at him and gnash our teeth.

nursesaideBen · May 31, 2006

sad situation

Meerkat · May 31, 2006

No different than if he had multiple female partners. As angry as this makes us, not a lot we can do. If he contracts something that requires the involvement of the health dept, then the wife will know. Until then, all we can do is glare at him and gnash our teeth.

Well, I think it is more risky than mulitle female partners. My understanding (no personal experience) is that anal sex is more risky than lady partsl sex in terms of tearing the mucosa, and exposing the 'reciever' to disease. Feel free to correct me.

Is there anywhere that that kind of thing is reportable? Under Tarasoff law, we have a duty to inform someone if we become aware that our patient may harm them. Isn't this almost the same?

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · May 31, 2006

The male patient is married with young children and a wife. He also has multiple male partners and having unprotected[/i] sex. Wife has no idea.
Have you ever seen something like that? I think it is tantamount to assault if he is exposing her to disease like that.

Yeah but my pt. teaching wouldn't be different if i didn't know this.

If my pt. was the man i would (privately) emphasize the importance of testing and such, and re-emphasize the risk he's presenting to himself and everyone involved.

If my pt. were the wife, and let's say that i have the knowledge about her husband's cheating and know she has no clue, i would emphasize the importance of testing for well-being.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · May 31, 2006

Is there anywhere that that kind of thing is reportable? Under Tarasoff law, we have a duty to inform someone if we become aware that our patient may harm them. Isn't this almost the same?

I wouldn't think, because unless you have pictures of him actually doing it, you really don't have the evidence that he is.

TazziRN, RN · May 31, 2006

Not the same, because what goes on in the privacy of a bedroom is off limits.

In my opinion unprotected sex with either gender is dangerous; if one partner has a disease the other will catch it, no matter if it's anal or vag. And lots of hetero couples practice anal sex as well. The key here is "unprotected", not "male partners."

There are certain STD's that are reportable; check with your ER if you want to know which ones.

Editorial Team / Admin · May 31, 2006

Tarasoff statute came about in California and directly involves psychiatrists/psychotherapists. Also, not all states have this statute in their jurisdictions.

As for STD/HIV/etc. - "Duty to warn" is applicable when the partner has been infected and fails to disclose to his/her sexual partners. There are federal laws about knowingly transmitting HIV/STD. Also, there is a state-to-state interpretation in regards to the patient's confidence - absolute or lose. But, one must know in which state the lose interpretation exists.

As for "duty to warn/inform" by those practicing unsafe sexual behaviour - it comes down to a "moral obligation" to do no harm - as viewed from the patient's stand point of view - not the HCP. The individual has a duty to protect his/her partners, especially if one or more of those partners are dependant upon that individual for financial support - a moral duty.

There again, it is up to the patient in this case, not the HCP.