Hello there, I am a European consultant physician in training who contracted HIV 3 years ago. I started meds recently but otherwise am physically well. My colleagues locally have been supportive, but my diagnosis remains secret from my trainers, who are anxious to place me abroad (ie US or Canada) in order to round out my training. Does my diagnosis preclude this utterly, or are employers willing to ignore this for foreigners ? My work does not involve exposure prone procedures and occupational health have approved me to work in several different posts within my native jurisdiction. Many thanks, David

Dear David,

Thank you for your excellent question. On your first point, since you do not perform invasive procedures, you may not be required to inform an employer of your HIV status at all. That policy would be set by the hospital or clinic in which you worked abroad.

On your second point, please check the United States Department of State website to determine whether you would be permitted to work/study here as a person with HIV. Our laws concerning visitors who have HIV are seriously out of line with accepted international standards. I apologize for that, and wish you a happy and fruitful work experience in Canada, where, as far as I know, you would encounter no such barriers.