For this reason, physicians from across America have contacted her with information about their infection and the infection of others. She has compiled the names of 19 occupationally infected surgeons of whom 9 are orthopedic surgeons. There were also maxillo-facial surgeons, ENT surgeons, and plastic surgeons. In addition, I personally know of another surgeon, Dr. Ed Rozar, a cardiac surgeon from Wisconsin, who was infected as a result of his occupation. Thus we can say without question that the CDC is intentionally deceiving and misleading surgeons as to the extent of their risk.
Physicians are members of a noble and righteous profession.
There has always been an element of risk in caring for those with infectious diseases. When I went through medical school, tuberculosis was endemic, and almost every medical school class lost at least one of its members to tubercular infection. Yet we all took that risk when we entered medical school because becoming a doctor was the finest, most idealistic of all professions. Fortunately, HIV disease is much harder to contract than tuberculosis, and if you know your patient is infected you can protect yourself and your staff quite effectively. The real danger lies in not knowing your patient's HIV status.