Joao Simoes is suing Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Union County, New Jersey, Superior Court for denying him his HIV medications for five days, and refusing to allow his sister to visit. The New Jersey man was admitted to the facility in August of 2011, and seen by Dr. Susan V. Borja.
Dr. Borja, according to the complaint (but who is not listed as a defendant in the action), reacted negatively when Simoes told her he was HIV positive. When he told her, at her asking, that he became infected through unprotected sex, she asked “Is that from sex with men?” When Simoes indicated it was, he said she got a disgusted look on her face, closed the folder containing his case files, and left the room. Moments before, the doctor did not seem to have any issues with a patient who told her he was a convicted murderer who had just been released from prison.
No other nurse or staff made contact with Mr. Simoes, and it was three days before they allowed him to call his personal physician. That doctor told Simoes that he had already spoken to Dr. Borja, who said “you must be gay, too, if you’re his doctor.”
