You have the right to privacy when it comes to your HIV status. Your HIV status is your personal health information. Most provinces and territories in Canada have laws that require health professionals to keep your personal health information private (confidential). These laws set rules around when healthcare workers can collect, use, or reveal your HIV status.
Healthcare providers can only disclose your HIV status in limited circumstances and must protect this information from being shared without your consent. It can be difficult to fully understand how your health information is being collected, stored, used, or disclosed, especially as you engage with many different health professionals throughout your life. You should not hesitate to ask your health professionals and/or health facilities about their policies for protecting your personal health information.
The information contained in this publication is information about the law as of December 2023, but it is not legal advice. For legal advice, please contact a lawyer in your region.