Disease, Disparities and Decision Making: Mandatory HIV Testing of Prospective Immigrants to Canada

Abstract

This case study explores ethical issues with Canada’s immigration policy and the requirement of mandatory HIV testing of prospective immigrants. Attention is directed to the official immigration medical examination (IME) because it is a key site within the immigration system. The following four issues are raised: the differences in official and experiential knowledge claims about what activities occur (or not) in the IME when an applicant is diagnosed with HIV; the exceptional treatment of HIV within the Canadian immigration program; the discursive organization of the HIV testing policy; and, the inadequacies with how specific practices are enacted in the processing of immigration applications made by people living with HIV.