TESTING PATIENTS FOR HIV BEFORE SURGERY - THE VIEWS OF DOCTORS PERFORMING SURGERY

The aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes of doctors perf orming surgery to the HIV antibody testing of surgical patients. Fifty of eighty (62.5%) doctors performing surgery who are working in two L ondon teaching hospitals returned completed anonymous postal questionn aires. Sixty-six per cent of the sample would like some form of compul sory testing of pre-operative patients, although most of them feel tha t this is only necessary for patients considered to be in 'high-risk g roups'. Eighty-four per cent believe that this would ensure their safe ty from infection during surgery. Forty-eight per cent agreed with tes ting patients without their consent. Results suggest that most of the doctors performing surgery in this study agree with compulsory HIV ant ibody testing of pre-operative patients in the belief that this would protect them from infection during surgery. The problems associated wi th compulsory testing and relying on such testing an order to protect doctors from infection during surgery are discussed.