Do prisoners have the right to receive medical treatment for HIV/AIDS?
The CDC provides HIV medications, including protease inhibitors, to most HIV-positive prisoners who have symptoms related to HIV and/or have a low T-cell count or high viral load. Prisoners do have the right to refuse HIV medications. Some HIV-positive prisoners have refused medications because they want to avoid the side effects, which can be very unpleasant. Many feel that the medical staff does not take their complaints of side effects seriously. Another concern is that medication treatment will be interrupted when they are transferred from one facility to another, or when other administrative decisions and delays in getting medication renewals interrupt treatment. This is a valid concern, because if you begin taking an HIV medication and then stops taking it, that medication and certain other medications may no longer work for you. Prisoners report problems with regular availability of HIV medications and the lack of monitoring for side effects by medical staff. Under Cal. Penal Co
