Building a cooperative
doctor / patient relationship

January 2007     View PDF     En español

A positive HIV-antibody test or an AIDS diagnosis changes many aspects of a person’s life, including the kind of relationship they may choose to have with their doctor. Many people develop a more assertive attitude about their health and well-being when they find out they have HIV. Because HIV disease and treatment is complicated, making decisions about when, how and whether to start anti-HIV therapy isn’t always easy.

One great step to take is to become an active participant in your healthcare and treatment decisions. This means that both patients and doctors need to learn how to work and communicate respectfully and thoughtfully with each other.

Project Inform suggests the following guidelines for discussion between patient and doctor. Our intention is to help both parties establish reasonable expectations of each other and to set up a climate of cooperation and joint responsibility for healing. Just as there isn’t a “one size fits all” approach to HIV treatment and care, there’s no one doctor-patient relationship that suits everyone.