Citation

AIDS Policy Law 1995; 10(9): 11.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, Buraff Publications)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11362499

Abstract

A New York court has refused to order Lillian Brown, a nurse, to be tested for HIV antibodies in order to proceed with her claim that she suffered emotional anguish after puncturing her thumb with a needle at work. The decision was made since she never claimed that her anguish was based on an HIV infection, rather on the possibility of infection. Brown accidentally suffered a puncture wound while picking up an intravenous needle left in the crib of a newborn who had tested positive for HIV. After the incident, she was tested for HIV and found to be negative. She has resisted further HIV testing for fear that if she is HIV-positive, she would not be able to cope with it, according to her psychologist. Brown was diagnosed as having post-traumatic stress disorder. The hospital, part of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corp., had filed a motion seeking to compel Brown to submit to HIV testing to establish whether she has HIV. The court denied the motion.

Language: en