Vol. 415 No. 2
65 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if she will give details of the number of doctors who have been registered as HIV positive; and if she will outline the action, if any, she proposes to take on this growing problem in order to eliminate the threat to patients.
I do not have information on the number of doctors who may have tested HIV positive. HIV testing is done in this country, as in all western countries, on a totally confidential basis.
The Medical Council are the body responsible for the regulation of the medical profession in this country. The council issued ethical guidelines in 1989 which include guidance to doctors who might become infected with the HIV virus. The guidelines refer to the protection of patients.
I recently asked the Medical Council to re-assess the guidelines to see if further action is required. The council have informed me that a general review of the guidelines is planned for this year. The council consider that the present guidelines are adequate and sufficient for doctors to know what is expected of them if they consider they might be infected. In the light of the availability of more scientific information the council will consider whether further guidelines might be required.
