Sarah
Campbell, the complaintant, says that the Fayetteville Pain Clinic refused to
treat her for back pain because she is HIV positive.
“This
case sends a clear message that healthcare providers have a responsibility not
to discriminate against clients based on their status,” says Allison Rice,
supervising attorney at the Duke AIDS Law Project, who represented Campbell.
“And
it sends the message that if people are discriminated against, there are ways
for them to fight back,” Rice says.
The
settlement is part of the Justice Department’s Barrier-Free Health Care
Initiative.
Campbell
says a doctor at the Fayetteville Pain Clinic refused to treat her after she
was referred to the pain clinic for back pain. “I’ve never had a doctor treat
me like that,” Campbell said, “I could have crawled in a hole.”
Campbell
says she’s happy with the settlement.
“The
only thing I was really hoping for is for him to treat anyone else like he
treated me,” she said. “It looks like that is what is going to happen. I just didn’t
want anyone else to feel like that."
People
living with HIV/AIDS often report facing discrimination and stigma, even in
healthcare settings, says Claire Hermann, communications program coordinator at
the North Carolina AIDS Action Network.
“We’re
glad to see the federal government stepping up,” said Hermann. “Clients have a
right to be treated with respect. Healthcare providers should be educated about
HIV/AIDS and realize that the virus cannot be transmitted through casual
contact.”
Campbell
agrees. “To me, having HIV is a lot like having heart disease,” she says. “If
you learn more about it, you can treat it better. I’ve never been afraid to
talk with people about having HIV. I hope it can be a learning experience.”
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