BIOETHICAL ASPECTS OF HIV-INFECTION IN CHILDREN

The care of HIV-infected children is fraught with many bioethical conf licts and dilemmas that require careful attention if care is to be pro vided appropriately. Understanding of the interplay of such general pr inciples as autonomy, nonmaleficence, confidentiality, and veracity he lps to clarify the nature of specific conflicts. This article addresse s both general principles and their specific applications to pediatric patients with HIV infection. It addresses these matters from the poin ts of view both of patients and parents. It shows why conflict is prac tically inevitable, and it points the way toward prevention and resolu tion of conflict. Practical guidelines are provided in relation to the critical problem of disclosure of diagnosis to the patient.