Laws regarding Hepatitis C (HCV) and other unanswered questions

[scars-cars-and-Rs]

So I am new to Bluelight. I have been reading threads and taking advice from the amazing Bluelight community for years now. Just recently decided to join, also recently diagnosed with chronic hepatitis c (via former iv drug use). Since being diagnosed, I have made some major lifestyle changes. The biggest, hardest, but most important one was getting clean. I have some questions that I can't seem to find the answers to, here or Google. Hopefully, some of you guys can help me out.

First off, being newly diagnosed and having only known one other hcv+ individual, I am completely lost when it comes to laws/regulations about being HCV+ and disclosing this information to others. With that said, I'm not completely naive either, but there still are some situations that I could be put in where I would have absolutely no idea what to do.

I am aware that there are some situations where I'd have no choice (either by law or ethics), like the following:

• Any new doctors, medical staff, EMTs, pretty much any medical personnel that doesn't already know (like in an emergency situation where they dont have your records and whatnot)
• Any new (or potential) sexual partners
• Any situation where drug paraphernalia may be shared
• Even though I wouldn't try, I know I'd have to notify any blood banks before trying to donate (pretty sure it's illegal to withhold this information in a situation such as this, correct?)

That's about as many situations that I know of that I would most definitely disclose this information, even without being asked.

I live in the US, so many of my questions are about laws/regulations in this country.
My questions to you guys are as follows:

• Are there any laws about telling people you are HCV+ like there are with HIV+ people? Could an HCV+ person be imprisoned for not telling someone they are HCV+ in a situation where the other person is potentially at risk for being contaminated?
• Is it illegal to discriminate (in any way) against someone who has HCV, in this country? If yes, is this based on federal law, state laws, or local laws? Pretty much what I'm asking with this question is, if an employer were to find out you are HCV+, could they legally terminate you based on this?
• Can health insurance companies "drop" you or deny you after finding out you are HCV+?
• Do you, by law, have to disclose that you are HCV+ to tattoo parlors if you were to try to get a tattoo or body piercing? or is this just an integrity/ethics sort of situation where it would be in everyone's best interest for you to disclose this sort of information?

I've not been able to find clear-cut answers to most of these questions. And I can't find any answer to the last one about tattoos/piercings.
If anyone could chime in on any of these questions it would be very much appreciated. i know this post is probably long and boring to most, I'm just hoping there are other HCV+ people on here (or people that aren't but can help) that can help me better understand any precautions I need to take when dealing with these types of situations. For my first post, I think I followed all the forum rules. I hope so anyway....

 

[PriestTheyCalledHim]

Congratulations for getting clean and sober, and welcome to bluelight.

I'm not sure about answers to your questions. Can you ask a doctor, or a Hep C specialist?

I moved your thread to healthy living.

 

[scars-cars-and-Rs]

Thank you. And I'm going through a bit of a rough patch, financially. So the only doctors I'll be able to speak with are my PC and my GI doc, for the time being anyway. Once I get new health insurance, which should be sometime next week, I'll be able to go to a specialist. But I'm not sure if a doctor that is specialized in treating hep c patients would have any clue :/ I'm hoping someone on here can answer at least the last question, about the tattoo parlor and disclosure. I'm hoping to get some new ink soon.

 

[lolreally]

I'm very curious as to know the answers, considering my boyfriend is positive for Hep C and never bothered to tell me, until I guilt tripped it out of him about a year into our relationship. Hep C is blood to blood contact, where as you can get HIV from bodily fluids, so I really don't think the same rules apply, but I may be mistaken. I was recently tested and didn't have it at that time. (Hoping this is still true.) As far as I'm aware, it's hard to transmit sexually as both people would have to be bleeding, but I'm hoping that someone has more insight on the topic. Congratulations on getting clean and here's to hoping for some answers! About the tattoos, I DO think you have to tell them. But again, not sure.

 

[SixBuckets]

So I am new to Bluelight. I have been reading threads and taking advice from the amazing Bluelight community for years now. Just recently decided to join, also recently diagnosed with chronic hepatitis c (via former iv drug use). Since being diagnosed, I have made some major lifestyle changes. The biggest, hardest, but most important one was getting clean. I have some questions that I can't seem to find the answers to, here or Google. Hopefully, some of you guys can help me out.

I'm in Australia, not the US, but I can tell you what the deal is here. It would probably be similar in the US.

First off, being newly diagnosed and having only known one other hcv+ individual, I am completely lost when it comes to laws/regulations about being HCV+ and disclosing this information to others. With that said, I'm not completely naive either, but there still are some situations that I could be put in where I would have absolutely no idea what to do.

I am aware that there are some situations where I'd have no choice (either by law or ethics), like the following:

• Any new doctors, medical staff, EMTs, pretty much any medical personnel that doesn't already know (like in an emergency situation where they dont have your records and whatnot)
• Any new (or potential) sexual partners
• Any situation where drug paraphernalia may be shared
• Even though I wouldn't try, I know I'd have to notify any blood banks before trying to donate (pretty sure it's illegal to withhold this information in a situation such as this, correct?)

This isn't correct. In Australia, there are only four situations in which you are legally required to disclose your hep C status:

- if you are donating blood, sperm or organs. You will not be able to donate blood if you have hep C but your organs can be used for transplants in other people who have hep C.
- if you are a health care worker who conducts exposure prone procedures (like if you're a dentist or a surgeon and you put your hands inside other people)
- if you're applying for life insurance or health insurance
- if you're a member of the Australian Defence Force

You do not have to disclose to health care workers who are treating you and you do not have to disclose to sexual partners (hep C is considered low risk for sexual transmission - it's higher risk for men who have sex with men and/or people living with HIV, but even those demographics are not legally required to disclose before sex).



I'm not sure about the rest of your questions as they're pretty location-specific, but there might be a hepatitis organisation in your region who can answer them.