ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the demographics and trends of the infection, both nationally and internationally, with emphasis on trend data that show the changing demographics of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in the United States and the impact of advances in treating the virus. It explains the legal issues of which social work students, practitioners, and administrators should be aware when working with those who are or may be infected with HIV/AIDS. Some states require that the consent required for release of information from federally funded substance abuse programs be used when releasing HIV/AIDS information. As has been seen, except for involuntary HIV testing, the individual faced with HIV testing must give informed consent before the tests can be conducted. For the individual infected with HIV/AIDS, then, the decisions as to who should become guardian if there is incompetence and what standards or priorities should be used in decision-making are important.
