Justice Willed: Clinic offers all-day document preparation
Helping our clients to prepare advance planning documents has always been an AIDS Law Project priority. As the COVID pandemic raged on, requests grew for medical advance directives and estate planning.We had lengthy phone conversations with clients to document their wishes, but we were unable to finish the documents: Each requires two witnesses, and some…
Justice Written: Good Counsel Spring 2021 edition now available.
Check out the vital work the AIDS Law Project has done over the last six months. And while you’re there, don’t miss our staff selfies and sentiments about how we’ve sustained ourselves during the pandemic.
Justice Warmed: A little push goes a long way
One recent Friday morning, a young, single mother living with HIV placed a frantic call to our office. Her apartment’s heating system was broken, and she and her two children were cold. A day earlier, Philadelphia Gas Works had found safety violations in her furnace that needed immediate repair, so she contacted the property manager…
Justice Timed: Home care hours restored for double amputee
“Mary” is a 56-year-old double amputee living with HIV. More than a decade ago, she was injured in a fall, and an infection spread to both of her legs. Double amputation was the only way to get the infection under control.For many years, Medicaid paid for her in-home care, eight hours a day, seven days…
Justice Affirmed: Medicare reimburses client for gender-affirming surgery
Our client, “Sara,” a 52-year-old trans woman from Central Pennsylvania living with HIV, knew she needed surgery to affirm her gender identity. Her medical team in Philadelphia knew she needed it.But would Medicare cover this necessary service?Knowing from experience that the struggle for Medicare payment would be long and complicated, the surgical team suggested that…
Justice protected: An EMT returns to work
A client of our South Jersey office is an EMT with an ambulance company. Trained on universal precautions, he knows how to do his job safely. But when COVID arrived, he no longer felt safe at work. With a compromised immune system and inadequate personal protection equipment (PPE), he felt unsafe trying to provide care…
Justice Arrived: Welcome Ellis Solomon Eden
The AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania is overjoyed by the latest addition to our extended family, Ellis Solomon Eden, born to Lydia Gottesfeld and Jacob M. Eden on Sept. 12.Ellis arrived at an impressive 9 pounds, 8 ounces and 21.75 inches long.Lydia is an attorney at Community Legal Services and Jacob is an attorney at…
Justice Alerted: End is imminent for utilities shut-off moratoriums
Moratoriums on utilities shut offs imposed at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic are scheduled to end soon, raising the possibility that thousands of customers could lose services. In New Jersey, the moratorium, already extended once, is scheduled to end Thursday, Oct. 15. Although state officials are in negotiations with utilities about the moratorium, nothing…
JUSTICE Planned: Make a plan to vote now
Election Day is just days away, and the AIDS Law Project urges you to plan how you will vote. For questions about voting, call or text 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683). Here’s what Pennsylvanians and New Jerseyans need to know: Pennsylvania If you are not registered to vote, you have until Monday, Oct. 19. Register online: https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/VoterRegistrationApplication.aspx or Go…
Justice Expectant: A doctor who delivers it all
This June, we took a call from Dr. William R. Short, a Penn Medicine Infectious Disease physician specializing in OB/GYN. He needed immediate help: One of his patients, a young Philadelphia woman, pregnant and living with HIV, was scheduled to surrender in July to a small county jail more than 2½ hours away. In May…