hiv positive man sues center

CDC HIV/AIDS/Viral Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update HIV Positive Man Sues Center Shante� Woodards
August 26, 2003

Detroit News (08.20.03) - Tuesday, August 26, 2003 A man in Wayne County, Mich., is suing an Ypsilanti nonprofit agency, HIV/AIDS Resource Center, for publishing an annual report with his picture and identifying him as HIV- positive. The man, to whom the lawsuit refers as "John Doe," worked at HARC as a volunteer two years ago, during which time the company published the report over which he is suing. "You can't disclose that type of information," said his attorney, Vanessa G. Fluker of Southfield, Mich. Her client wants to be compensated for "the ridicule and [ostracism] that he's now experienced in the community because of the negative stigma associated with this condition," she said. Jimena Loveluck, president and CEO of HARC, said the group takes confidentiality seriously and does not release medical information. She did not comment on the lawsuit. A group of volunteers founded HARC in 1986. The nonprofit provides HIV/AIDS-related services to residents in Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston and Wastenaw counties. The Michigan legislature has passed several laws since 1986 regarding HIV, hepatitis and other diseases. The state's HIV confidentiality laws require that all information related to HIV/AIDS be confidential, including whether or not a person has been tested, according to the Michigan Advocates Exchange. "It's not a very well-known law," said Kendra Kleber, director of legal services for the exchange, which serves HIV/AIDS patients. "The stigma is still so bad that I think people are not surprised to learn that they should not be talking about someone else's HIV status."

Most Read: Latest Added Related Topics White House LGBT Conference on HIV/AIDS UNITED STATES: White House in Atlanta: LGBT AIDS Conference No more single-theme conferences: global HIV prevention conference planned FHI 360 Senior Scientist Lut Van Damme Receives International Microbicide Conference Lifetime Achievement Award Equatorial Guinea Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and UNICEF Refute Erroneous AIDS Prevalence Figures Photographs from A Day with HIV Now Online Bulgaria urges Libya to investigate AIDS nurses case Engineers enter fight against AIDS in Africa Gilead’s Complera® Non-Inferior to Atripla® Among Treatment-Naive HIV Patients UN chief Ban calls world leaders to end Aids by 2020 HIV messages should include MSM Stock-outs must be top of agenda TEXAS: Free HIV Testing CALIFORNIA: Entertainment AIDS Alliance (EAA) Presents 11th Annual Wine and Wisdom Fundraiser NORTH CAROLINA: ALFA Offers Free Community Health Educator Training in Hickory CALIFORNIA: Over Half of People Living with AIDS in San Francisco Are Aged 50 or Older THAILAND; UNITED STATES: HIV Drug Can Also Protect Injection Drug Users INDONESIA: Growing HIV/AIDS Awareness in Indonesia's Papua Region UNITED STATES: Many Young Americans Unaware They're Infected with HIV Board to Vote on Condoms in Boston Schools HIV messages should include MSM TEXAS: Free HIV Testing THAILAND; UNITED STATES: HIV Drug Can Also Protect Injection Drug Users INDONESIA: Growing HIV/AIDS Awareness in Indonesia's Papua Region UNITED STATES: Many Young Americans Unaware They're Infected with HIV New International Report on HIV Prevention Urges Localized Consideration of Antiretroviral Strategies New Analysis of World's Premier AIDS Conference Finds Poor Coverage of Populations Most-at-Risk for HIV GREECE: Doubled HIV Cases Add to Greek Woes OHIO: Phila Health Department HIV Testing Well-Received CONNECTICUT: City's Circle Care Center is a Model for HIV Prevention
Copyright © 2003 -CDC Prevention News Update, Publisher. All rights reserved to Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD. The CDC National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention provides the following information as a public service only. Providing synopses of key scientific articles and lay media reports on HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis does not constitute CDC endorsement. This daily update also includes information from CDC and other government agencies, such as background on Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) articles, fact sheets, press releases and announcements. Reproduction of this text is encouraged; however, copies may not be sold, and the CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News Update should be cited as the source of the information. Contact the sources of the articles abstracted below for full texts of the articles. Information in this article was accurate in August 26, 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.