The Jiangsu city of Suzhou has passed China's first local law to protect the rights of people infected with HIV. Under the law, patients and their families are guaranteed equal access to employment, education and healthcare. Employers are also banned from trying to access patients' medical records. National regulations issued in 1987 outlawed discrimination against HIV-infected people. However, the absence of local laws left people with little legal recourse, said Suzhou's health department.