The client contacted the REActor with a complaint about the actions of an emergency medical service operator. She reported that she had been feeling unwell for several days, but on the day she reached out her condition significantly worsened \u2014 her temperature rose to a high level. For this reason, her mother called the emergency medical service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the operator\u2019s questioning about the symptoms, the mother also informed them that her daughter is HIV-positive. After this, the operator refused to dispatch an emergency medical team and advised them to contact a specialized center for HIV-positive patients. When the client\u2019s mother called again, she was told once more that no ambulance would be sent, as they had already been advised where to seek assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The client was provided with legal consultation and psychological support. The REActor personally made another call to the emergency medical service to request an ambulance to the client\u2019s address. During the conversation, the REActor explained to the operator that refusing to provide emergency medical care due to a patient\u2019s HIV status is a serious violation of human rights and current medical legislation. People living with HIV have the right to receive all necessary medical care on equal grounds, and the failure to provide such assistance may entail legal liability for medical workers, including criminal liability for improper performance of their professional duties. As a result the call was accepted by the operator, and an emergency medical team was dispatched to the client\u2019s address to provide the necessary assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This case demonstrates that stigma and prejudice against people living with HIV can still affect access to medical care, which is unacceptable in a modern healthcare system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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