ABSTRACT
One important issue to be considered is medical directives or "living wills," indicating whether the il l partner wishes to have "heroic measures" used to sustain life or, alternatively, wishes to create a standing "do not
Issues such as medical decision making highlight the strains put upon caretaking partners in mixed-status relationships. Beyond the emotional and psychological needs of such partners, a number of practical policy issues also emerge concerning caretaking. One example is the ability of the caretaking partner to get time off from work-or even simply the understanding and cooperation of co-workers and employers-when his or her partner is i l l . If the couple has not disclosed either their status as a couple or their mixed HIV status in the workplace, either out of a desire for privacy or out of fear of discrimination, the well partner may be forced to act as though nothing is going on or to make up excuses for missed time or a drop in job productivity.
