Keeping Confidence: HIV and the criminal law from service provider perspectives
Based on discussions with 75 service providers, this study found that criminalisation has influenced, and sometimes disrupted provision of HIV services, creating ambivalence and concern among many providers about their new role as providers of legal information. Service providers’ approach were influenced by their personal views on shared responsibility for health, concerns about professional liability and their degree of trust in non-coercive approaches to managing public health.
Examining public health nurses’ documentary practices: the impact of criminalizing HIV non-disclosure on inscription styles
Found that public health nurses’ anticipation that medical and public health records could be used as evidence in court is affecting public health nurses’ reasoning and documentary practices during HIV post-test counselling. Nurses have real concerns that notes will be misinterpreted and given a legal significance contrary to their original purpose, and fear their professional competence could be attacked. Traditional counselling practices prioritising client care and risk reduction are in conflict with HIV criminalisation.