AIDS and Ethics

The GLBTRT has been reviewing books and movies in its newsletter since the early 1990s. Trace the evolution of queer publishing through these historic reviews. This review was originally published in Vol. 4, No. 4, Winter 1992.

Cover of AIDS and EthicsAIDS and Ethics. Edited by Frederic G. Reamer. Columbia University Press, 1991. $29.50. (ISBN 0-231-07358-5)

As editor, Reamer has compiled an impressive list of contributors, who have in turn produced a collection of essays that are infonnative, factual and very readable. What’s fair, what’s just, what’s legal, what are the choices and how are they made? These topics and others of a similar nature make up the collection. My wish would be to deal with each essay as an entity but that would overextend my privilege as a reviewer; however, I must go for some discussion of a few of the essays and the questions they raise.

“Waging a War on AIDS.” Who is the enemy, the virus or the person infected? In such a war, can we expect human subject research (Kamikaze Pilots), the use of experimental drugs and vaccine trials? See what I mean about questions?

“Ethics and the Person.” Is it ethical to have one insurance policy at one cost that covers AIDS and one at another that excludes AIDS coverage? What’s ethical and what’s feasible, how far can National Health Insurance be stretched and not jeopardize other social action programs?

Two chapters deal with physicians, other health care professionals and the patient. These chapters frightened me, angered me, and made me realize all over again that ethics and morality are speeches and may be listened to but not heard. They may be written about but may not become law. In 1987, of 4,000 dentists polled in Chicago, only three said they would accept new AIDS referrals. Statistics like these point out strongly the need for books like this to awaken us to our moral and ethical responsibilities.

There is a chapter on privacy and AIDS which brings up a whole range of issues, most of which could begin with the word “responsibility.” The last chapter is “AIDS and the Law’ and highlights areas of the law where AIDS has been the Significant factor.

I have no hesitancy in recommending this book for professional, academic, or public libraries. For the medical or legal professionals, this book may, on the surface,  appear to be an oversimplification. In reality, these essays exhibit a depth of knowledge of the subject and of the persons most directly affected.

Reviewed by Ray B. Means
Creighton University
Omaha,NE

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