Letter: Surgeons at risk

Sir: With the discovery that Tim Shuttleworth, an obstetrician who has been operating for many years, is HIV-positive, it is only reasonable that there is discussion about the risk to patients of acquiring HIV infection during surgery (report, 8 March).

However, we also need to consider the risks to which surgeons are exposed. There has been no case in the world of an HIV-positive surgeon infecting a patient, but two surgeons, in Africa and America, have been infected by HIV-positive patients.

Many people would now like all surgeons to be tested. But if all surgeons are to be tested, then so also should all patients.

Yours faithfully,

ANNABEL KANABUS

Director

Aids Education & Research Trust

Horsham, West Sussex

8 March