Diagnosis of HIV and counseling: A case report

A positive HIV test has far reaching implications for any individual. Rapid HIV testing should not imply quick patient management. Health care workers and counsellors must ensure that HIV testing is done within the accepted norms and standards of proper patient care. Pre and post HIV test counseling is required for persons undergoing all HIV testing regardless of the testing method, but this aspect is not adhered to leading to many ethical issues as to the rights of the HIV infected people, especially in relation to the mode of disclosure of HIV status to infected people. Disclosure of HIV positive status calls for a sensitive approach by the health authorities, as an insensitive approach can lead to devastating results leading to death of the unfortunate victim to end his/her life prematurely by deliberate self harm. Here a case of suicide of a person is reported who was made known is HIV positive status by a private lab.