Ethical standards for the occupational health-nursing practitioner regarding the hiv positive person in the workplace

The occupational health-nursing practitioner often becomes involved in ethical dilemmas with regard to the handling of HIV-positive people in the workplace in that the interests of the HIV-positive people conflict with the interests of the employer. Therefore, the occupational health-nursing practitioner could find himself/ herself acting as mediator between the two parties. Despite the existence of legal norms and ethical standards to regulate the interests of the HIV-positive person in the workplace, no guidelines exist as to how these norms and standards should be operationalised during interaction between the HIV-positive person, the occupational health-nursing practitioner and the employer. The occupational health-nursing practitioner is therefore uncertain as to the manner in which to act professionally within the laiddown ethical standards for HIV-positive people in the workplace. The purpose of this study is to provide guidelines and criteria for the operationalisation of ethical standards for the occupational health-nursing practitioner regarding the HIV-positive person in the workplace. This is done through a literature study with specific reference to current ethical frameworks within the occupational health context, after which the research is focused on two target groups, namely the occupational health-nursing practitioners and HIV-positive persons in the workplace. The design of the research is qualitative, explorative and descriptive. In order to assist the occupational health-nursing practitioner to handle the HIV-positive person in the workplace in an ethical manner, guidelines and criteria were compiled for the operationalisation of the standards. Health SA Gesondheid Vol.6(1) 2001: 12-2