Should We Tell the Truth? Why Families in Japan Chose to Tell Their Loved Ones They Were Victims of Iatrogenic HIV Infection

Japanese families traditionally avoid disclosing diagnoses of terminal illnesses to patients, seeking to protect the patient from emotional pain and shock. Using awareness theory, in this study we aimed to investigate the attitudes toward disclosure among bereaved families of Japanese hemophiliacs with iatrogenic HIV/AIDS. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 34 bereaved family members. Qualitative content analysis centered around three main issues: (a) family attitudes toward physician nondisclosure of HIV diagnosis; (b) family attitudes regarding the consequences of nondisclosure; and (c) family attitudes regarding the impact of nondisclosure on patient—family relationships. Our findings suggest that families favored disclosure because they felt that knowledge of the iatrogenic HIV infection would benefit the patient.