A diagnosis of HIV: God had nothing to do with it

It didn’t seem like my college-age patient Quincy had any idea what was in store when I entered the exam room.

“Hi Dr. Rifkin,” he said with a warm smile as I sat next to him. Quincy (not his real name) had been my pediatric patient for years.

I didn’t delay. “Hi Quincy. I’m afraid I have some terrible news. Your lab work came back — you’re HIV-positive.”

His head went back slightly. …

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