HIV DISEASE IN PREGNANCY - ETHICS, LAW, AND POLICY

Legal and ethical principles mandate that informed consent be an integ ral element of HIV-related education, counseling, testing, treatment, and intervention. Minimizing patient counseling and education (for eco nomic reasons or otherwise) is likely to backfire. The presumption tha t a parent will act in her child's best interest, accepted in analogou s contexts, should be foundational in the development of HIV policy in the obstetric and gynecologic setting. Most women, when provided with counseling, care, and confidentiality, consent to prenatal or perinat al testing and, most important, engage their families in HIV-related c are and services. Because of the changing terrain of knowledge about a nd treatments of HIV disease, providers must thoroughly counsel women regarding the risks and benefits of available treatment and interventi on.