The Patient’s Rights Law prohibits discrimination in the provision of medical services on various grounds, including religion, race, sexual orientation, and nationality. If this prohibition is violated, a complaint can be filed with the examining committee of the discriminatory body, the ethics committee, or the Ministry of Health. Although this law does not specifically mention health status in general or HIV in particular, there are cases where a civil lawsuit can be filed in court against the person or body that discriminated against you in the provision of medical care.
Since an HIV test is not required before most medical procedures—and many people are unaware of their HIV status—medical staff are obligated to take standard precautions in every procedure, assuming that any patient may be carrying an infectious disease. For this reason, it is illegal to discriminate against patients based on HIV status, and it is illegal to schedule an HIV-positive patient only at the end of the day.
The Ministry of Health’s circular (13/11) explicitly states that it is forbidden to discriminate in any way against a person living with HIV: not by postponing their treatment to the end of the day, not by marking them differently, not by isolating them, and certainly not by refusing to treat them. In the case of hospitalization, the medical staff may place a discreet infectious disease marker (BioHazard) inside the medical record (not on its cover), without explicitly mentioning the specific illness. While this marker may cause discomfort with visitors or family members who might ask about its meaning, it is legal as long as it follows regulations and preserves the patient’s privacy. In such cases, you may request that the staff keep your file at the nurses’ station rather than on your bed.
Bottom line: Medical staff must maintain medical confidentiality and treat all patients equally, regardless of their HIV status. If you were denied a specific treatment, delayed to the end of the day, or marked in an unusual and visible way, contact the complaints coordinator at the Israel AIDS Task Force immediately. We will handle your complaint discreetly and ensure your rights are protected.
For information about "Bituach Leumi" rights and social benefits, visit the attached link.