Youngpositive : information : wetgeving en verzekeringen



	for and by young people with HIV
	when and how to tell? Telling others that you have HIV remains a delicate matter. The fear of being rejected plays a big role in this. It is quite possible that you will face negative reactions, prejudices and discrimination. It's not without reason that people talk about a 'stigma'. If someone rejects you on account of your infection, it can also feel like they are essentially rejecting your lifestyle and perhaps even failing to accept your 'being'. Sometimes it also involves a deeper fear of becoming infected with HIV or of the disease that it can cause. Fortunately, a lot of people also react with understanding and support. Often, the people with whom you are intimate want to support you and share your feelings and experiences with you.
	rights It is always up to you to decide whether or not you tell it, to whom and when. While you may well consider it to be a moral obligation to mention it in some situations, essentially you don't have to tell it to anyone around you. Professional caregivers are bound by a duty of professional confidentiality. The law forbids them to reveal the identity of their patients to non-caregivers. Once you reach the age of 16, you have the right to receive information independently. The caregivers' duty of confidentiality then holds in relation to your parents as well. This means you can speak safely with your caregivers about your diagnosis (see also 'legal aspects about your treatment'). If you want to inform a sexual partner that he or she may have run a risk of contracting HIV, you can have this done anonymously through an HIV Treatment Centre in the Netherlands or an ARC in Belgium.
	tips for telling someone about your HIV status Before telling someone about your diagnosis, it is a good idea to take the time to think about a few things first (see also 'sexuality and relationships'): Consider the importance of the setting in which you will be telling the news: Choose a quiet moment and a calm place where you will both feel comfortable. That will give you the feeling that you are able to manage the conversation and the person you are going to tell can react more calmly to the bad news. Think about your reason for telling someone and who the most obvious or ideal person is to talk to. This is especially important when it concerns someone at your work, school, etc. Ask yourself whether the person you are going to tell can be supportive for you. Do you think you are going to need to support him or her instead? After all, your diagnosis can also be a major setback for your boyfriend or girlfriend. Think about whether or not this person can keep a secret. Also try to predict how he or she will react to your diagnosis. If you expect the reaction to be negative (i.e. rejection), you might want to think about whether it is really necessary for this person to know about your HIV status. Keep in mind that both parties have things they are anxious about. You might fear being abandoned by the person you are telling it to, while he or she might be afraid of losing you due to HIV.
	Penny, 28 years For the last 7 years, I've known I was positive. Looking back, I can assure you the first 4 years were quite difficult, even though at the time I didn't realise it. In the beginning, when I found out, I wanted to tell everyone, but this didn't always go well; I had some negative experiences, especially with strangers such as new boyfriends. Though my parents, brother and friends had responded well. Now I consider whom I tell with a little more discretion. I take a little time to think whether to tell a work mate who may have by now become a good friend, yet still not the right moment. When I tell someone, I always let them know that they can ask me anything they want. I don't mind them doing this, I even appreciate it. Read more personal stories: Paul, 23 years Cliff, 25 years Greg Index page for personal stories