Italian High Court Rules HIV-Positive People Qualify for Disability Benefits
Italy's highest court on Wednesday reversed a lower court decision and ruled that HIV-positive people are entitled to disability benefits, even if they do not "show signs of a weak immune system," Reuters Health reports. The lower court had ruled against providing monthly disability benefits to a 35-year-old, HIV-positive woman because she "appeared to tolerate her daily drug regimen well" and therefore should be able to work. The Corte di Cassazione overturned that decision, saying that "being able to tolerate medication" does not indicate that HIV has not adversely impacted a person's "working capability." In addition, the court ruled that the psychological impact of the disease must be considered when deciding to provide disability benefits to people with HIV/AIDS (Reuters Health, 7/10).
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