ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explains directly and specifically the attitudes of health professionals toward acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients, discusses legal and ethical concerns, and provides a historical view of public responses to infectious disease. It also discusses the realities that emerged from an extensive analysis of opinion research surveys: Americans with AIDS face discrimination because of the hostile attitude of large segments of the population; the result is the loss of jobs, housing, and ready access to health care for the afflicted. The book addresses the critical question of whether reliance on the law or ethics would better remove barriers to health care for patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related disease. The more important recommendations include using the National Commission on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome more effectively; protecting HIV-infected persons against discrimination; and strengthening the financing of care of AIDS patients.
