Question

A 17-year-old boy with mild ADHD presents to your clinic alone for a regular follow up. He confides that he is currently taking medication for tuberculosis. You remember that patients with tuberculosis may also have concomitant HIV infection. You are now thinking of offering HIV screening to this patient. Which among the following would be the most appropriate next step?

A. Inform the patient's parents and let them sign the consent form for screening
B. Proceed with HIV screening after the patient has given his informed consent
C. Advise the patient to follow-up in one month with his parents for screening
D. Let the patient finish anti-tuberculosis therapy and perform screening after
E. Refer the patient back to the clinician managing his tuberculosis

Answer 1

The most appropriate next step would be to proceed with HIV screening after the patient has given his informed consent.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most appropriate next step would be to proceed with HIV screening after the patient has given his informed consent. In this case, the patient is a 17-year-old boy who confided in you about taking medication for tuberculosis. Although patients with tuberculosis may also have concomitant HIV infection, it is important to respect the patient's autonomy and privacy by offering HIV screening with his informed consent. It is not necessary to involve the patient's parents or wait until he finishes anti-tuberculosis therapy to perform the screening.