AIDS firing was ‘abusive’
The decision by an employer to fire a 28-year-old staff member after colleagues complained about him being an AIDS carrier has been condemned as abusive in a court ruling which, however, does not order the firm’s decision to be reversed. The man, identified only as A.P., was granted 1,200 euros in damages in the verdict that came four years after legal proceedings were launched. Since then, the 28-year-old has concealed from employers the fact that he is infected with the AIDS virus. His lawyer spoke of «a clear case of discrimination.» The lawyer representing his former employer asked the Supreme Court to overturn the verdict of abusive dismissal, noting that fear of the AIDS carrier was «a scientifically justifiable phobia.» A spokesman for the Association for the Study and Control of AIDS said, «There has been no reported case of AIDS being contracted in any way other than via blood or sperm.»
