Resumo Apesar da vasta quantidade de conhecimento sobre o vírus HIV, sua transmissão, clínica e tratamento, as implicações éticas e os dilemas sociais da Aids ainda são poucos discutidos. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar o que sabem o aluno de medicina, o paciente e o médico sobre ética médica e Aids. Questionários para avaliar noções de ética médica e atendimento ao paciente HIV+ foram aplicados a 50 alunos de medicina (a)53 pacientes HIV+ (Pa), 30 professores (P) e 30 médicos (M). Pacientes referiram discriminação de médicos (20,7%) e família/amigos (32,1%). A necessidade de testar todas as gestantes para o HIV era conhecida por 100% dos PA e M, porém 1/50 A e 3/30 P desconheciam esse fato. Trinta e quatro por cento dos PA e 10% a 16,7% dos A, P e M não sabiam da necessidade de consentimento para realizar o teste HIV. A possibilidade de romper o sigilo profissional no caso de parceiros sexuais era desconhecida por 69,8% dos PA e de 16% a 40% dos A, P e M o direito do adolescente ao sigilo era ignorado por 66% a 76,7% dos alunos e profissionais. Algumas normas dizem respeito ao atendimento aos pacientes infectados pelo HIV, embora contempladas pelo código de ética médica, ainda não são totalmente conhecidas ou aplicadas.
Abstract: Despite widespread knowledge concerning HIV and its transmission, clinical characteristics, and the treatment, the ethical implications and social dilemma of AIDS are still scarcely discussed. This study aims to evaluate what medical students, patients, and physicians know about medical ethics and AIDS. Questionnaires were applied to evaluate knowledge on medical ethics and medical care for HIV- infected patients. Some 50 medical students (S), 53 HIV-infected patients (IP), 30 professors (PR) and 30 staff physicians (DR) answered the questionnaire. Patients reported discrimination by physicians (20,7%) and family and friends (32,1%). A full 100% of IP and DR were aware of the need to test pregnant women for HIV, but 1/50 S and 3/30 PR were unaware of this fact. Some 34% of IP and 10% to 16,7% of the S, PR and DR groups were unaware of the need for informed consent to perform the HIV test. The possibility of breaking professional secrecy in the case of sexual partners of HIV infected individuals was unknown to 69,8% of the IP group and 16% to 40% of the S,PR, and DR groups. The right of adolescents to secrecy was unknown to 66% and 76,7% of the students and professionals, respectively. Some norms concerning care for HIV infected patients although covered by the Code of Medical Ethics, are still not fully known or applied.
