A student of the National Defense University was expelled from school because he was tested positive for HIV four years ago. In March, the Ministry of Health and Welfare filed an administrative suit against the university but failed. Therefore, the health ministry appeal the case to the Supreme Administrative Court and fine the university NT$1 million for violating HIV laws.
Four years ago, a student of the National Defense University was expelled from school because he was tested positive for HIV in a regular health check. To fight for the student’s right to education, the Ministry of Health and Welfare filed an administrative suit against the university. The Centers for Disease Control also decided to fine the university NT$1 million for violating the HIV Infection Control and Patient Rights Protection Act.
==CHOU JIJ-HAW, CDC Deputy Director-General==
If an HIV patient faces discrimination in the school or the workplace, authorities can ask the institution to improve with a specific period of time. However, if they fail to improve the condition, they will face a fine of NT$300,000 to NT$1 million.
The appeal ended with a disappointing result this March when the Taipei High Administrative Court ruled in favor of the university, saying that the health ministry has no right to evoke the sanction of student withdrawal. However, the ruling noted that the health ministry was authorized to fine the university based on HIV laws. The health ministry will appeal the case to the Supreme Administrative Court for the third time in a few days, saying that the court’s decision will affect Taiwan’s international image and HIV prevention and control.
==CHOU JIJ-HAW, CDC Deputy Director-General==
If AIDS-related stigma is not eradicated, how can we expect HIV infectors to take an HIV test in hospitals? How can we implement HIV prevention and control? The whole society will in turn pay a higher price. I hereby emphasized that discrimination is the biggest enemy against HIV prevention.
Over the past 3 years, there have been 5 cases involved with discrimination against HIV patients. These institutions all paid a NT$ 300 thousand fine. If the student’s case wins, it will become the first of such cases with the highest fine. The health ministry said they will try their best to communicate with the Ministry of Defense, and reached a satisfactory settlement.
TRANSLATED BY：ARIEL HSIEH
四年前原本就讀國防大學的學生「阿立」，因為疑似校方獲知他感染愛滋病，讓他在學校備受歧視，遭校方退學，當時他只剩一學期就畢業，為了爭取他的就學權，衛福部對國防大學提出行政訴訟，這起事件也驚動聯合國愛滋病組織，在今年七月來函關切；而疾管署也決定，將依違反愛滋感染者權益保障條例，對國防大學開罰100萬元，若不改善、將連續開罰。
==疾管署副署長 周志浩==
對於就學就業
有這些歧視行為的話
主管機關可以(要求)限期改善
也可以 如果在限期改善
還沒完成之前 還沒有完成的話
的確是可以處罰30(萬)到150萬
疾管署表示，雖然台北高等法院、在今年3月一審認定，衛福部不是教育主管機關，無權撤銷退學處分，判衛福部敗訴，不過判決書中也強調，衛福部可依照愛滋感染者權益保障條例，依法裁處，因此衛福部近日內將三度向最高行政法院遞狀，並強調，若法院漠視此案、將重創台灣國際形象，也不利愛滋防治。
==疾管署副署長 周志浩==
他(感染者)怎麼會出來做篩檢
怎麼會配合來做預防
這些的工作呢
那這樣子的話 我們社會
反而會付出更大的代價
這也就是我們再三強調
歧視是防治愛滋
最大的一個敵人
而根據統計，過去三年來，共有5起因愛滋歧視被開罰案件，其中3件是就業歧視、2件是就醫歧視，分別被開罰30萬元，阿立案件若成立，將成為國內第一起就學歧視開罰案例、金額也創新高，不過衛福部也強調，仍會努力與國防部溝通，讓本案有個圓滿的結果。
