Risk of HIV from surgeons

It is now an established routine that all patients undergoing surgery have to be screened for Hepatitis B and sometimes Hepatitis C, in addition to HIV. Although it entails an additional financial burden on the patient and has its lacunae, it is tacitly accepted by the patient. It is ostensibly meant to prevent the surgical team from being exposed to the virus.

Has not the patient got an equal right to protect himself by asking the surgeon to have his blood test done? I know of three surgeons who test positive for the above infections. One is an old case of Hepatitis B and another is strongly positive. A third is positive for Hepatitis C and suffers from pancytopenia but continues to operate on patients with what can be called cursory precautions. In my opinion it should be mandatory for hospitals to screen surgical staff periodically. I invite the opinions of your readers on this issue.