A 43-year-old client comes to the clinic with her partner for a series of fertility tests. The client's partner used to be the midwife's patient from another facility, and the midwife is certain that he tested positive for HIV. The client is unaware of her partner's diagnosis. The midwife talks to the partner in private, and, although he acknowledges that that he used to be her patient, he denies that he tested positive for HIV and refuses to talk to his partener about his diagnosis. What should the midwife's next action be?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The next action of the midwife is to urge the client to persuade her partner to have an HIV test with her. This action may be supported by educating the client about the effects, risks and treatment options of HIV. The midwife has the duty to protect the health of the client, but she also has to respect the partner's privacy. Urging the client to persuade her partner to take the test with her is ethical. There are certain situations in which the midwife has the legal duty to report cases that threaten public safety. The midwife may inform the client about the partner's diagnosis if she has attempted to resolve this issue through all other possible means.

A 43-Year-Old Client Comes to the Clinic with Her Partner