Do I have to tell people that I am HIV positive?
Do I have to tell people that I am HIV positive? When you are diagnosed you will speak to a health adviser who will discuss this and similar issues with you. You should be careful who you tell as once it's done, there's no going back. Although safety precautions are taken you should inform anyone who could come into contact with infected body fluids (e.g. dentists, surgeons) and your doctor especially if you develop unusual symptoms which may be related to or altered by the HIV infection. If you are a healthcare professional (HCP) you should seek appropriate counselling as certain invasive procedures cannot be performed by HIV positive HCP. It is important to act responsibly where others are concerned, especially sexual (or drug-sharing) partners. There are court cases where HIV positive individuals have been prosecuted for infecting partners without informing them that they are HIV positive.