AEGiS-07IAC: AIDS and its impact on family: an ethical and legal perspective.

7th International AIDS Conference


Florence, Italy — June 16-21, 1991

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AIDS and its impact on family: an ethical and legal perspective.

Int Conf AIDS 1991 Jun 16-21; 7:38 (abstract no. W.D.61)
Boroni V; International Center on Ethical, Legal and Forensic-Medical Issues related to AIDS - San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy

THE

OBJECTIVE: Of this study is to highlight how AIDS affects the life and the integrity of a family, especially in cases regarding marriage, children, divorce and moments whereby family needs social assistance.

METHOD: the study founds itself on a survey of European laws and Family Court sentences; it also takes into consideration a limited but significant statistic research on the impact of AIDS on families living in Milano city. The study demonstrates that the disease does affect family and its members, particulary in this moment whereby AIDS is greatly diffused amongst heterosexuals, which generally have a family. From this perspective, public intervention is necessary, provided that it respects confidentiality and authonomy. Present laws regarding marriage, such as those related to capacity consent and annulment, seem qualified to protect the unsuspecting partner, also economically. Although very few people divorce cleary because of AIDS, studies show that more frequently children pay the penality of the disease.

CONCLUSION: It seems that the present European laws on family are qualified to cope with AIDS and its pathological consequences on the family's integrity; however it remains necessary to implement greater economical and health care assistance strategies to make family an effective and jointly responsible instrument against AIDS.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Family, Divorce, Marriage, Confidentiality, Heterosexuality, Helping Behavior, Child, ICA7KWDaegis,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,family,divorce,marriage,confidentiality,heterosexuality,helpingbehavior,child,ica7
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WD61

Copyright © 1991 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.