The HIV/AIDS epidemic has resulted in a multitude of legal issues. Privacy and confidentiality, two rights that have increased in value in the last decade, arise has immense legal issues. Since physicians should never disclose the secrets of his/her patient unless required by laws of the state, they face a dilemma when confronted with different situations. Consider the following example: SIf an HIV positive person is about to get married, should their spouse be notified about the poossibility of passing on the virus? The spouse has an extremely high risk of getting HIV but at the same time the information could put their relationship in jeopardy. Physicians have often responded by informing the spouses because of their fear of spreading the virus. These situations have happened continously and an