Ethical and Legal Issues in AIDS Research

Résumé du livre

This book addresses the difficult ethical and legal issues of conducting psychosocial research on AIDS. Because the disease has primarily affected groups that are discriminated against or are engaged in illegal activity, people with HIV infections may be reluctant to seek treatment and counseling or to participate in research projects. The authors describe the need to handle the cases and records of participants with extreme care and explore the broader implications for conducting socially sensitive research. Topics include the epidemiology of AIDS and psychosocial reactions to it, the risks and benefits of doing research on AIDS, the problem of preserving confidentiality, legal protection for research participants, informed consent and "debriefing," and the balance between individual privacy and public health.