Psychologists and Confidentiality

posted: 08/03/2010

A 20 page booklet of guidance from the British Psychological Society advises psychologists working in the NHS how to deal with HIV confidentiality where people may be exposing their partners to HIV. The guidance – ‘Criminalisation of HIV Transmission – guidelines regarding confidentiality and exposure’ has best practice guidelines, sections on dealing with police enquires and on disclosing information to partners, and what the various codes of ethics and types of professional guidance say.

These guidelines on HIV confidentiality and disclosure were developed to help clinical psychologists where HIV-positive clients have not disclosed their status to their sexual partners and there is a significant risk for HIV transmission. They have also been developed to assist clinical psychologists when clients believe they have contracted HIV under these circumstances.

This 2009 booklet costs £4.70 to people who are not members of the British Psychological Association.