Despite major progress in treatment and understanding, some outdated practices and attitudes towards HIV persist in health and care settings. These are not only unnecessary – they can also be harmful, discriminatory, and have legal implications.

Below are some common incorrect approaches you may come across, along with why they need to stop:

Using extra personal protective equipment (PPE) based on HIV status (e.g. double gloving)

• Your workplace’s standard infection control procedures are all that’s needed when caring for someone living with HIV.
• Double gloving, wearing extra PPE, deep cleaning a space following treatment, or isolating people due to their HIV status is not necessary, is not evidence-based, and can create fear and stigma.
• HIV cannot be passed on through touch.

Correct approach: follow standard infection control procedures for everyone. They are designed to protect both you and the people you care for.

Marking or labelling files based on HIV status

• Highlighting someone’s HIV status in records breaches their confidentiality and could expose them to discrimination.
• HIV is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act (2010). This means that people living with HIV are legally protected from discrimination in areas such as work, healthcare, and access to services from the moment of diagnosis.

Correct approach: Keep HIV-related information confidential. Share only when it is essential for care and with the person’s consent.

Asking, ‘How did you get it?’

• Asking intrusive or judgmental questions about how someone acquired HIV is not relevant to care and is likely to cause distress.
• These questions often reflect stigma around sexuality, drug use, or personal history.

Correct approach: Focus on the person’s current care needs. If you need to ask a sensitive question, explain why, be respectful, and let them know they do not need to answer.

Treating HIV as a death sentence or ‘severe risk’

• HIV is now a manageable long-term condition, thanks to effective treatment.
• People living with HIV who are on treatment cannot pass on the virus to others.
• Overemphasising risk and using language such as this only reinforces stigma.

Correct approach: Treat HIV like any other long-term condition – with routine care, up-to-date knowledge, and no fear. You may find our Language Guide in the resources section helpful.

Making assumptions about who has HIV

• You cannot tell someone’s HIV status by looking at them, their age, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, job, or interests.
• Making assumptions could lead to unequal care and unfair or inappropriate levels of support.
• Just like the people you support, some of your work colleagues might be living with HIV, often well-managed and without it affecting their work.

Correct approach: Treat everyone with the same level of care and confidentiality. HIV can affect anyone.

What matters most is compassion, up-to-date knowledge, and following the same equitable, person-centred care for everyone in your organisation. Fear and outdated beliefs have no place in health and social care in Scotland.