You have been a dental hygienist for 10 years and have been seeing a patient that is your best friend`s husband. He has been one of your patients for the last 5 years. At your last appointment with him you updated his medical history and he stated that he was HIV-positive. After the initial shock, you asked him how long he had been aware of his current health status. He told you that he had just been diagnosed HIV-positive within the past month. He also informed you that his wife was not aware of his condition.
You recalled that at your most recent conversation with her best friend she had told you that her husband had been acting withdrawn for the last few months. You know that you should not tell your friend because you will break your patient- practitioner confidentiality but you think you should let your friend know that he is HIV-Positive because you don't want to put your friend at risk.
It is proposed that you break your patient-practitioner confidentiality to make your best friend aware that her husband is HIV-positive.