Stigmatization, Doctor-Patient relationship, and Curing HIV/AIDS Patients

Today, HIV/AIDS is not merely a disease and its carriers are not merely considered as patients. Since the transmission modes of HIV/AIDS are for the most part related to the deviant behavior of human being, a stigma has been developed against this disease. This study is aimed at examining the effect of this stigmatization in the curing of these patients and the interaction of the doctor and HIV positive patients. A qualitative research method has been used in this study. Data collection has been carried out through interviews. Depth interview and semi-structured interviews have been employed for the patients and doctors respectively. This study was done in the consultation center and infectious disease ward of Imam Khomeini hospital. Six clients of the consultation center and seven infectious disease specialists were selected. AIDS stigma has resulted in inappropriate fears in the medical community, such that the interaction of the patients and doctors are affected by this phenomenon, and some curing discriminations occur against these patients. Based on the results obtained in this study, AIDS stigma has undesirable effects on our medical community, such that HIV/AIDS patients can hardly have access to the same curing rights as other patients. The results indicate that this stigma plays a significant role in introducing this disease as a social and cultural phenomenon. Doctors like other individuals of the society are likely to be affected with the values, norms, and constructions of the society.