Time to end the ban on HIV-positive proceduralists and dentists

Atkinson, Sean R

doi:10.5694/mja14.01031

Topics

To the Editor: This year, the ban on HIV-positive surgeons and dentists practising in the United Kingdom was removed on the provision that they are clinically well, are being treated, and have an undetectable viral load.1 This development aligns the UK with over 20 other countries. Australia is lagging behind other more progressive countries on this issue.2

Department of Sexual Health, Cairns Hospital, Cairns, QLD.

Correspondence: drseanatkinson@gmail.com

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

1. Ban lifted on HIV-positive doctors practising surgery. (news). London: British Medical Association, 2013. http://bma.org.uk/news-views-analysis/news/2013/august/ban-lifted-on-hiv-positive-doctors-practising-surgery (accessed Sep 2014).
2. Ma R. Discrimination against doctors with HIV must end. BMJ 2012; 344: e3440.
3. Robert LM, Chamberland ME, Cleveland JL, et al. Investigations of patients of healthcare workers infected with HIV: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention database. Ann Intern Med 1995; 122: 653-657.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Investigation of patients treated by an HIV-infected cardiothoracic surgeon — Israel, 2007. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2009; 57: 1413-1415.
5. Rodger A, Bruun T, Cambiano V, et al. HIV transmission risk through condomless sex if HIV+ partner on suppressive ART: PARTNER study. 21st Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections; 2014 Mar 3-6; Boston, Mass, US; abstract 153LB.
6. Chibo D, Kaye M, Birch C. HIV transmissions during seroconversion contribute significantly to new infections in men who have sex with men in Australia. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2012; 28: 460-464.

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