The "Equality Act 2010" in the UK explicitly recognizes some chronic illnesses as disabilities. For this reason, people with chronic diseases must be protected just as well as people with a disability. This is the case with cancer, multiple sclerosis or HIV-infection. Britannic Court has expanded the list by recognizing hepatitis C and chronic respiratory disease as chronic diseases.

In Canada, the "Ontario Human Rights Code" contains a list of various chronic diseases, which are defined as disabilities, including diabetes and epilepsy. Any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement that is caused by bodily injury, birth defect or illness is to be understood under the term “disability”.