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Running head: CASE STUDY
Case Study: HIV stigma
Lufthansa Castro
George Washington University
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CASE STUDY
HIV Stigma in Healthcare Workers
HIV positive healthcare workers particularly nurses working in the OR have the rights to
the same protection against discrimination under state and federal law. Nurses are educated on
taking precautions to prevent transmission and exposure to HIV with guidance from CDC and
OSHA (Massachusetts Nurses Association, 2017). Management of HIV positive nurses still face
some issues surrounding HIV because of its complexity and lack of relevant data. According to
MNA, there is still not enough data and documentation regarding the risk of HIV transmission
from health care provider to patient. This causes fear in the healthcare system because there is
still the perception that they pose “significant risk” to patients. “Some qualified physicians did
not disclose their HIV status – avoiding or delaying treatment, or paying out of pocket for it,
rather than risking disclosure and the loss of their professional status and livelihood (Gostin,
2017).” A case of an HIV positive male RN working in the OR was handled unethically. The
CEO of this hospital decided to cover up their story by writing a policy that could move people
out of positions if they felt that it was not in the best interest of or could be harmful for patients.
Surgeons and other healthcare workers gossiped about the nurse and he was told to move from
any surgical cases. The nurse worked 10 years for this hospital with approximately 14,000
surgery cases and none of those cases were found to have transmission of HIV. In the end, the
nurse was not able to file a lawsuit and he stayed in the hospital uncooperatively that led to his
death in their ICU. Healthcare leaders should be aware of HIV treatments that we have now and
how it is and is not transmitted. When leaders and workers are properly educated of the facts, it
helps foster a compassionate and empathetic working environment (CDC, 2019). It also prevents
stigmatizing behaviors towards other healthcare workers living with HIV that could hinder
prevention, treatment, and care.
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CASE STUDY
CEO of healthcare system today must be aware of these situations and stay true to their
morals by treating everybody with respect and dignity. Moving the HIV positive male RN from
