Negatives of testing positive (2)

Even though such public health concerns are largely exaggerated and only showcase public fears, there are extreme cases where patients have sought vengeance on society.

Gao Yaojie, a doctor and one of the first in China to draw attention to AIDS, wrote in her book about a man who contracted AIDS during a blood transfusion. Unable to hold the hospital legally responsible, the man filled a syringe with his blood and targeted officials.

However, it is important to note that even though matters have vastly improved during the past two decades in terms of public awareness of HIV/AIDS, people living with the disease still face tremendous pressure and discrimination, said Meng Lin, coordinator of China Alliance of People Living with HIV/AIDS (CAP+).

These people's rights to employment, medical attention and travel are still frequently infringed upon.

Most recently a HIV carrier was refused surgery at a Tianjin hospital. The health authorities responded by emphasizing that hospitals should not turn away patients for having AIDS, but this is still a common occurrence all over the country.

In most cases, some HIV/AIDS sufferers have to falsify their medical records or lie about their condition to get needed medical treatment.

Zhao Bin, 22, was tested as being HIV-positive when donating blood in October 2011 but had had sex with only one partner. In July, he went to a hospital in Chongqing with a fever and cold-like symptoms. Doctors told him that he needed to be hospitalized and get IVs. But when Zhao told them he had AIDS, the hospital sent him packing to a designated hospital for infectious diseases.

"The doctors and nurses, despite all their medical knowledge, are still afraid," said Zhao, now a volunteer at Lanyu Group, a Chongqing-based NGO on HIV/AIDS intervention.

Official numbers show only a few hundred cases of occupational exposure to HIV virus among medical practitioners in China, with zero resulting infections.

While this does not necessarily justify certain behavior such as falsifying medical records, the difficult living conditions of HIV/AIDS patients sometimes leave them with no choice, NGO workers say.

We Recommend:
Attractive beauties at auto exhibitions	Cadillac SPX shines at  Auto Exhibition	Girl receive banknote dress from sugar daddy
Siberian tiger cubs born in Harbin	Bogus sexy cop charged	Herders, sheep flock move to winter pasture
New Silk Road models in outdoor show	Development of telecommunication	Sexy car models at Auto Exhibition