Justice Action slams the decision by the Department of Corrective Services to refuse HIV positive prisoners access to the KM1 Herbal Formula Trial. 

Acting Commissioner Sulman in dismissing the application wrote that the internal ethics committee believes the trial can be effectively undertaken in the community without involving inmates. HIV trials often provide the sole hope for people living with HIV/AIDS. 

"That this trial has the support of the AIDS Council of New South Wales, health care workers in the corrections system and the Community HIV/AIDS Research Network suggests Corrective Services is not interested in the basic rights of HIV positive prisoners", said Justice Action spokesperson, George Selvanera. 

"This occurs at the same time as the New South Wales Government is being sued for failing in its duty of care by not providing the same level of access to HIV preventive measures as exists in the community with the result being a man dying of AIDS related illnesses in a bed at Sacred Heart Hospice." 
 

"Does the entire prison population have to contract HIV before Corrective Services makes available the same level of access to HIV prevention measures as the rest of the community?" 

With prison syringe exchange programs already in Switzerland and soon to be in Germany and Canada, the constant line spun by Corrective Services that syringes would be used as weapons shows practical concerns can be overcome.