HIV / AIDS Rights
Know your HIV / AIDS Rights
In South Africa's health care system all patients, no matter their age, sex, race, sexual orientation, or disease, have the right to equal health care and resources available. Regrettably though this is not always the case where in instances patients who have tested positive for HIV/Aids are not given the medical attention or treatments they are entitled to. This unfortunate scenario is something that happens more often than you might think. It is for this very reason why the laws with regards to HIV/Aids rights plays such a major role in South Africa.
There are literally millions of South Africans who are HIV positive, but being HIV positive is not a crime, it's a tragedy, and it should be treated as such. HIV/Aids patients maintain the right to be treated the same as patients with other types of ailments. This includes being well informed about the virus, it's effects and how it can be treated. It is also well in the rights of an HIV/Aids patient to make a conscious decision as to how he or she wants the continue such treatment.
HIV/Aids rights also stipulate that patients who tested positive should have, at all times, doctor/patient confidentiality. If anybody of the personnel at the health care institution you are treated at break this confidentially clause it is your every right to make a legal case against the guilty party or parties according to the South African HIV/Aids rights legislation.
If you feel that your rights as an HIV/Aids patient is not being fulfilled and that you have reason to pursue a case, contact Adele van der Walt Attorneys. We have ample experience in cases that deal with HIV/Aids rights and we'd be happy to help you, with sensitivity and diligence, persue a case when your rights as an HIV/Aids patient has been contravened.
For more information on this subject, please give us a call at 012 460 3668 (SA) or e-mail us at clare@avdw.co.za
