ABSTRACT
Migration challenges very basic notions of rights, discrimination and moral behaviour in the way any culture or society responds to HIV infection. People are subject to the restrictions and ramifications of policy, but the virus itself seems oblivious to this, and spreads worldwide in awesome proportions. Although there are a number of arguments surrounding the ethical and moral aspects of HIV and migration, the situation is complex. One final thought on the issues is this: if we are prepared to say that some citizens from other countries have a right to enter ours because of their special needs, is there any reason to limit the types of need we recognize as relevant? In discussing refugees, for example, we talk in political and sometimes economic terms, but what about health needs? Might it be appropriate to say that, far from being a reason to refuse people entry to a country, a positive HIV status might qualify them for entry on grounds of illnesses which create special needs in the patient which cannot be met in their own country? However, AI DS may be different in that it is a peculiarly social illness, and in some countries it carries with it many of the problems more commonly associated with political persecution or economic deprivation. Furthermore, it is a particular cruelty of the virus that it has struck with so much force in parts of the world economically unable to fight it. Combining these factors there may be room to argue that knowing someone is potentially HIV positive gives us an extra reason to welcome them into our country so that we can share with them some of the resources and knowledge which could benefit them.
