Does a person that has AIDS have a responsibility to inform their employer?

Question

If they work in a job that they may get hurt and others have to administer first aid, don't the employees have a right to know that the person is infected?

Answer 1

It all depends on how much you like your coworkers.

Coach

Answer 2

This is an interesting question. The reality is it is much harder to get AIDS from body fluid exposure say than Hepatitis B or C. Because of the publicity associated AIDS it has a much stronger stigmata than the other two.
Generally, I would say your health is your business, but morally if you might expose one of you coworkers to a deadly disease I think you should tell. However, I don't necessary think your coworkers need to know, just your supervisor. It would be important for those in supervisory positions during the training of employees to emphasize the importance of universal precautions.

Answer 3

no. the company, however is under the legal obligation to provide appropriate barrier equipment (gloves, those special masks you place on the victim while providing AR, etc)in the first aid kit. The person with aids should try to only administer first aid in the most dire of circumstances, however to keep the risk of cross infection near 0.

Answer 4

No a person does not have to give any mdeical conditions. If they apply for FMLA the only people that should know is the personal administrtator. Every person should be treated equal we use universal precautions on everyone when giving health care or first aide.

Answer 5

As an EMT I do know from experience that people are almost never legally required to inform anyone of their medical conditions. I often have patients who have a disease who choose to not tell me or my crew (even though we are held to the same confidentiality laws as doctors). So this day and age it is best to follow something my instructor taught us...treat every patient as if they have a disease you don't want. Also according to federal law called HIPAA, anyone other than health care workers involved with a patient cannot be told anything about said patient.

Answer 6

Personally i think they do, if the person infected needed urgent first aid and was in no state to warn anyone about their illness, then the first aider would administer first aid, say it was a deep cut or something then body fluid would be passed and they could infect themselves, when i persons health is at risk then the manager should be told

Answer 7

No. HIV/ AIDS is almost impossible to get outside of sex, needle sharing, or breastfeeding... none of which are probably part of your job. As far as getting hurt on the job, ever hear of "Universal Precautions"? It means treating every patient as if they were contagious- using gloves, allowing the injured person to help themselves as much as possible (putting on their own Band-Aid), etc.

I'd be more concerned about working with someone with hepatitis, which is easier to spread and harder to kill on common surfaces like doorknobs and phones.

Answer 8

No - Medial information is confidential. Always use caution before helping someone. If it is a concern to you, ask you employer to contact a medical equipment store & keep latex gloves and CPR shields at your place of business - I'm sure they will be more than happy to comply.

Answer 9

No, a person does not have a responsibility to inform their employer of any condition or disease that they have.

Answer 10

watch the movie Philadelphia

Answer 11

Legally, no. Ethically? Perhaps.