Debbie's 8-year-old foster son Michael was born HIV positive. He was placed in a school in a small village in the south-west and everything
was fine until someone broke confidentiality. This caused such panic
and hostility that they were forced to move out of the area. A local
mother screamed at them in the street to keep Michael away from her
children, shouting that he should have been put in another school.
questions
1. Why was confidentiality important for both Debbie and Michael?
2. With reference to prejudice, intolerance, orlabelling, how would
you describe the local mother's behaviour towards Michael?
3. Give three possible reasons as to why 'panic and
hostility' occurred within the village.
4. Describe how being HIV+ might have affected the care that
Michael received from Debbie.