[Current problems of hospital health including the AIDS problem. "Protection of patients and staff--legal status"].

The prevention of HIV infection in hospital, if at all possible, is a general legal obligation. For that reason, special preventive measures against infection are required for blood transfusions, transplantations or semen donations. On the other hand, comprehensive information on the risks of infection and the permanent reminder of hygienic directions are considered to be sufficient for the protection of physicians and nursing staffs. However, the arguments for such a careless handling are not convincing. HIV testing of patients for the protection of the medical staff must not be relinquished. However, the current jurisdiction does not permit to carry out HIV tests without the patients' consent following comprehensive information; furthermore, the consequences resulting from a positive as well as a negative test have to be explained to the patients. In case of established infection further transmission must be prevented by all means.