Lecture 5: erectile dysfunction in the HIV-positive male: a review of medical, legal and ethical considerations in the age of oral pharmacotherapy.

Urologists and health care professionals treating erectile dysfunction face a significant challenge in caring for the HIV-positive patient who seeks restoration of normal sexual function. The encounter between the health care provider and the patient in this setting requires knowledge of HIV disease and potential drug interactions specific to this population, as well as thorough counseling on strategies aimed at reducing the infectiousness of HIV-1. The interaction extends beyond the immediate boundaries of the doctor-patient relationship and their respective rights, to include careful consideration of the rights of the partner/s and the society as a whole. This paper is a summary and analysis of presentations and discussions by medical, legal, nursing and bioethics specialists in an interactive seminar on this topic.