Objectives. The HIV status of surgeons; in the context of the informed consent obtained from their patients; is a contentious matter. We surveyed the views of practising surgeons in South Africa regarding aspects of HIV and its impact on surgeons. Design. A cross-sectional survey of surgeons who were members of the Association of Surgeons of South Africa; regarding their attitudes to the preceding issues. Results. The salient findings included the view that a patientcentred approach requiring HIV status disclosure to patients would be discriminatory to surgeons and provide no clear benefit to patients; and that HIV-positive surgeons should determine their own scope of practice. Conclu- sion. Patient-centred approaches and restrictive policies; related to this issue; do not accord with clinician sentiment. In the absence of comparable local or international data; this study provides clinicians' views with implications for the development of locally relevant policies and guidelines