PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Michael A. Gardam AU - William F. Flanagan AU - Irving E. Salit TI - The HIV-positive dentist: balancing the rights of the health care worker and the patient DP - 2001 Jun 12 TA - Canadian Medical Association Journal PG - 1715--1718 VI - 164 IP - 12 4099 - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/164/12/1715.short 4100 - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/164/12/1715.full SO - CMAJ2001 Jun 12; 164 AB - WE DESCRIBE A HYPOTHETICAL CASE OF AN HIV-POSITIVE DENTIST without cognitive impairment who uses proper infection control procedures. The dentist's physician notifies the medical officer of health without the dentist's consent. Although HIV-positive health care workers, including dentists, have been identified in the past, proven HIV transmission to patients is very rare. Most authorities recommend that an HIV-positive health care worker be monitored by an expert panel, which could then, if necessary, refer to the regulatory body to revoke or restrict the person's licence to practice. Mandatory HIV testing is not required for health care workers because they generally do not pose a risk for infecting their patients; they are, however, ethically and legally obligated to report their HIV status to their profession's regulatory body.