Background: The virus HIV is transmitted through blood or unprotected sexual intercourse, causing immunodeficiency in those affected. To maintain good health and well-being despite the illness, healthcare professionals must see the person beyond the disease, which can be achieved by treating individuals with respect based on ethical care.

Aim: To describe and document how people living with HIV experience the healthcare system. 

Method: Using Polit & Beck's (2021) nine-step model, a general literature review was conducted that included 10 scientific articles that used either qualitative or quantitative research approaches. The qualitative articles underwent a thematic analysis according to Braun & Clarke's (2006) six-step model, while a recommended analysis by Popenoe et al. (2021) was used for the quantitative articles.

Results: Two main themes arose: violation and differential treatment and anticipated discrimination. The quantitative results showed that between 25%-51% of participants experienced discriminatory treatment. Factors such as sexual orientation and ethnicity were identified as increasing vulnerability to discrimination, which is a central focus of this study.

Conclusions: People living with HIV experience significant stigma in their contact with healthcare globally. This study clearly highlights shortcomings in how healthcare professionals treat these patients, which is rooted in a lack of knowledge and evasive behavior. This results in unnecessary psychological suffering and discrimination for individuals living with HIV.