According to multiple reports, a doctor demanded that a patient with autism shake hands during a medical visit. The situation caused the visit to be interrupted and the patient left the clinic. The Equality Ombudsman (DO) assesses that the man was subjected to discrimination because he was disadvantaged in a way related to his disability.
The DO demands that the Västra Götaland Region pay 30,000 SEK to the man. The region has one month to respond to the demand before the DO may file a lawsuit in the district court. The doctor's justification for the handshake demand has not been disclosed, and it is unclear whether the region will accept or reject the DO's demand.