Gay Help Line, an Italian LGBT+ charity, received a complaint from a young man with HIV stating a dentist had refused to treat him, asking him to leave the office upon discovering he was HIV positive.

Fan Page, an LGBT+ magazine heard of the story and decided to investigate for themselves the validity of the young man’s claim. One of their reporters made an appointment with the dentist and recorded everything that took place. Whilst in the waiting room, the reporter handed back a completed form on which they indicated they were HIV Positive. With no regard for privacy, the dentist came out into the waiting room and told the reporter he would not treat them and that they should go to the hospital instead. When pushed the dentist insisted that as his was a private practice he could refuse whoever he wanted.

Gay Help Line made an official complaint saying it made no difference if the patient had HIV as the same level of care should be maintained for people suffering any possibly infectious illness.

Their lawyer, Alessandro Cataldi, said in a statement: “The principle is that a dental practice must always guarantee the same hygienic and sanitary conditions for all patients and regardless of the declared or established serological status, as is also required by the Ministry of Health guidelines. The questionnaire must also not be issued in the waiting room but should be completed with the informed consent of the patient, to whom the doctor must provide any valid explanation as to the importance of becoming aware of such information.”

The National Association of Italian Dentists supported the dentist, saying that because the events took place in a private practice and not a clinic, some practices were not equipped to deal with the situation.

The complainants countered that if not all practices were equipped with instruments suitable for sterilization, they would become outbreaks of infection and should be closed down. They also reminded that in the case in point, the specific case was not an invasive procedure, merely a cleaning.

Giulia Grillo , the Italian Health Minister, made an announcement that the treatment received by the young man was “unacceptable” and that they would personally deal with the case. They continued the case was an example of “how strong discrimination is still today for people with HIV”.