H.I.P 塗鴉簿:那一天,我像垃圾一樣被台灣丟棄

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面對我直接詢問篩檢結果時,醫師並沒有給我直接的答覆。我問了好幾次,但他給的答案是「篩檢結果有問題」,他們必須把結果再拿去作進一步的檢驗。那位醫師的女助理說篩檢出來的結果是陽性,可是就算我提出疑問,醫師仍然沒有給我確定的答覆。接著那位醫師跟我預約兩天後,要告知我結果。

但那天後,醫師打了通電話給我,說他無法再告知我任何進一步的檢驗結果,總之,接下來會有疾管局的人跟我聯絡,他還說他已經取消兩天後的預約。

禮拜四下午我接到疾管局的電話,電話那頭的女人問我會不會說中文,接著彷彿按照程序似地告訴我:「我是愛滋感染者,而且必須離開台灣,因為我對於台灣民眾和學生來說是個危險。」接著她把電話交給一個會說英文的男人,他用英語跟我解釋,這幾天我的檔案會從北部的移民署轉交到相關辦事處,要我等辦事處的電話。由於我的篩檢結果,我必須在兩個禮拜內離開台灣。

接著他開始問我的私生活,例如:性傾向、保險套使用情況、在台灣的性活動、年齡和職業,他還說我的醫療記錄會完全保密。我們第一次談話就這樣結束了。那天晚上他又打了通電話給我,告訴我:「我無法在台灣接受抗病毒藥物的治療(ARV treatment)。」

我已經不記得隔週一的事情了,只記得隔週二當天,一位移民署的辦事員來我的公寓找我,因為我當時人不在,所以那位辦事員就跟正在幫我搬家的工人攀談。後來搬家工人跟我說那位辦事員留下他的電話號碼(署名有「移民與健康部門」以及「疾病管制」的字樣),要我儘快聯絡他因為這件事非常重要。我遵守規定打給那位辦事員並且留語音信箱,那位辦事員說會再跟我聯絡,但之後他再也沒有打給我。

離開台灣的那一天,移民署辦事員在我的護照上蓋章時對我說:「希望台灣給你帶來美好的回憶。」我想,也許我在台灣發生了許多事情,但老實說,在台灣的最後一個禮拜簡直是一團糟,以致我能記得的情節實在不多。回想起來,我覺得自己很幸運,當我病情一度危急時,我已經抵達英國,在英國就醫我能夠被尊重與同理,而當我需要接受治療或接觸相關資訊時,也不會有任何人提出質疑。我希望,未來台灣能多學習其他國家,對待愛滋感染者的方式能有所進步。

文章原文:
The doctor did not give me a direct answer at the Taoyuan Veteran’s Hospital when asked directly about the result of the test.  I asked several times for clarification and his answer was that there was a “problem with the results” and that they would have to “be sent for further testing elsewhere”.  The doctor’s female assistant said that it was positive but again the doctor would not confirm this when I asked.  The doctor then made an appointment for two days later when I would be able to get the results. Later that day the doctor who I had seen called me to say that he would not be able to give me any further results and that I would be contacted by someone from the Centre for Disease Control (CDC). He also said that he had cancelled the appointment made to see him two days later.

On the Thursday afternoon I was contacted by a woman from the CDC who asked if I could speak Chinese and then proceeded to tell me that I was positive and that I had to leave the country because I was a risk to Taiwan and students.  She then passed me on to a man who spoke English who explained that my file would be transferred from the Taipei office of, I think Immigration, to the Taoyuan office as my registration address was in Taoyuan and not Taipei, and that I would have to leave Taiwan within two weeks of my test results. He said that my file would be transferred the following day and to expect the call from the Taoyuan office. He then asked me a number of questions about my personal life such as: sexual preference, condom usage, sexual activity in Taiwan, age and employment. He also said that my medical status would remain private. This ended our first conversation and then he called back later that evening to ask one more question: regarding my highest educational qualification and that I would not be able to access ARV treatment in Taiwan.

I can’t remember what happened on the Monday but on the Tuesday, a person from the Immigration department came to my apartment to speak with me.  I was not there and instead he spoke with the Crown Removal employee who was packing my belongings.  It would appear that my situation was discussed as this employee told me that the government official had left his number and that it was in connection with the “Immigration and Health departments” and “Disease Control” and that I should contact him immediately as it was very important. I did contact with the mobile number and left a voicemail message. I called again the following day and the man who answered said that he would contact me the next day which he did not.

On leaving Taiwan, the immigration official who stamped my passport said, “Hope you have good memories from Taiwan”.

I know that there are probably other things that happened but to be honest the last week of being in Taiwan is quite a blur and I can’t remember a lot.  In retrospect, I was incredibly fortunate as being close to death on arrival in the UK I have been treated with respect and compassion and given access without question to treatment and access to information.  I hope that in the future Taiwan can learn from others and progress in their handling of those affected by this disease.

筆者:林斯

此文摘自「愛滋感染者權益促進會」

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