The Role of Informed Consent in Tuberculosis Testing and Screening
Eur Respir J 2012; 39: 1057–1059, DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00211611
7 Pages Posted: 3 Jun 2012
Date Written: May 1, 2012
Abstract
Despite decades of discussion of the role of informed consent in HIV testing and screening, there has been virtually no discussion of the role of informed consent in diagnosing TB. This article fills this gap by offering a comprehensive framework for analyzing the role of informed consent to diagnostic testing generally, and then applying that framework to the specific context of TB. It concludes that, in most situations, TB testing and screening does not require a specific informed consent process, but that patients should be notified about testing and given the opportunity to object. The article identifies limited circumstances, however, in which a specific consent process should be required.
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