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Will Hep C disqualify me?
Hi People,
I was told by a doctor at the VA that I tested positive for Hep C Antibodies. He told me at the end of a check up as I was leaving in such a blas
I was told by a doctor at the VA that I tested positive for Hep C Antibodies. He told me at the end of a check up as I was leaving in such a blas
Your first post showed concern about being disqualified, and no concern about the health the welfare of the general public.
A cop on the beat is always in danger of being grabbed and cut by some drunk, druggie, or by a person who is mentally ill.
Carrying a firearm doesn't negate this.
Having HepC and hitting the beat when you know that you're infected is a compleatly differant story than hitting the beat if you don't know that your infected.
Regardless of what you carry, and how much you try to avoid a fight, you can't always avoid it.
Sooner or later, somebody will draw blood.
A cop on the beat is always in danger of being grabbed and cut by some drunk, druggie, or by a person who is mentally ill.
Carrying a firearm doesn't negate this.
Having HepC and hitting the beat when you know that you're infected is a compleatly differant story than hitting the beat if you don't know that your infected.
Regardless of what you carry, and how much you try to avoid a fight, you can't always avoid it.
Sooner or later, somebody will draw blood.
Whereas Kojack66 did misread my post I think that he may be correct in what he says. Wouldn't a cop be a danger to his fellow workers and others if he or she had HepC? I know a cop has more chance of being infected than infecting others. Another point is that there are probably a lot of cops who are infected and don't know about it!
One last thing: A law enforcement officer will avoid a fight as long as they are carryiing pepper spray, ASP (collapisible batton), and a hand gun.
One last thing: A law enforcement officer will avoid a fight as long as they are carryiing pepper spray, ASP (collapisible batton), and a hand gun.
You need to go back and read Dave's post again. He never said anything about not disclosing, he merely asked if having HCV would "disqualify" him.
Uh, what is it you have against junkies and whores anyway?
Uh, what is it you have against junkies and whores anyway?
Dave,
The fact that you were positive for Hep C antibodies means either of two things. 1: You once were infected, but your body fought off the virus, and now there is no HCV in your bloodstream.(this applies to about 15% of the people with a positive antibody test.) OR... 2: You were infected as some time in the past, and now are a chronic HCV sufferer, with HCV in the blood and liver.(this applies to about 85% of those who are antibody positive.)
The ONLY way for you to know which of the above applies to your situation is to have a PCR test for HCV done as soon as possible. If you are negative by the PCR test, you are fine, and you DO NOT HAVE the virus. If the PCR is positive, then YOU ARE INFECTED, and need to follow up with a biopsy, and other tests to determing genotype and viral load. You would also want to very seriously consider treatment, if you are PCR positive. The odds are getting better every year now for curing the virus with treatment... with something like 55% or better for Type 1's, up to 80% to 95% for type 2 and 3 genotypes.
Please follow up with a good hepatologist or gastroenterologist who regularly treats HCV. Here's hoping you have a negative PCR!!!!!!!
If not....stay in touch with this forum...you will learn a lot, and find the support you will need to make good decisions and to deal with potentially treating the virus. Good Luck!!!
The fact that you were positive for Hep C antibodies means either of two things. 1: You once were infected, but your body fought off the virus, and now there is no HCV in your bloodstream.(this applies to about 15% of the people with a positive antibody test.) OR... 2: You were infected as some time in the past, and now are a chronic HCV sufferer, with HCV in the blood and liver.(this applies to about 85% of those who are antibody positive.)
The ONLY way for you to know which of the above applies to your situation is to have a PCR test for HCV done as soon as possible. If you are negative by the PCR test, you are fine, and you DO NOT HAVE the virus. If the PCR is positive, then YOU ARE INFECTED, and need to follow up with a biopsy, and other tests to determing genotype and viral load. You would also want to very seriously consider treatment, if you are PCR positive. The odds are getting better every year now for curing the virus with treatment... with something like 55% or better for Type 1's, up to 80% to 95% for type 2 and 3 genotypes.
Please follow up with a good hepatologist or gastroenterologist who regularly treats HCV. Here's hoping you have a negative PCR!!!!!!!
If not....stay in touch with this forum...you will learn a lot, and find the support you will need to make good decisions and to deal with potentially treating the virus. Good Luck!!!
Dave
Take the advice of the members regarding testing and knowing the complete story in reference to the Hep C. You may need to go outside of the VA to private Dr's and get the required testing. You may need their documentation down the road.
In reference to your question and Law Enforcement employment.
I am now retired after twenty five years in law enforcement, which may be how I acquired Hep. Like when I was bitten by that lycanthrope or the many times I was covered with others blood(who knows). It was only seven years after my retirement date that I was diagnosed. If I were still on the job I would have received an automatic disability pension from the city. It was passed into law a few years back that "Due to the nature of the employment, it is presumed to have been acquired as result of such employment", all I have to do is some how prove to the pension commission and get my regular pension reversed to disability pension. Well any way thats for the lawyers to handle.
Many departments throughout the country have adopted such wording into their civil service law along with HIV and TB status. Some Dept's are conducting baseline testing for all existing Police Officers, including Fire, Corrections and EMT. I believe Philly and Miami have done so and the numbers are way up there, now their are some union battles going on in those jurisdictions and now some unions are telling their officers to get tested on their own.
Go to google and type Hepatitis C, then go to search within these results and type in Law Enforcement or First Responders, you'll be surprised on how many sites their are. See if their is anything for your state or jurisdiction. Some jurisdictions will do their own medical exam, some will require that you supply all documents from your Dr's. everyone is different.
Keep in mind that your VA records and all medications (AD's ??)can easily be investigated by the jurisdiction. Our medical plans are a great source for that info and you signed over authorization for them to acquire and review that info when you applied for employment.
All I can advise is to know your complete status with the Hep. try to find out the policy in your jurisdiction and try to ask questions from existing officers without asking any questions, if you know what I mean. Remember some jurisdictions do not look at the person, they only see the nickles and dimes on how much you will cost them further down the road.
Good Luck and Gods Speed.
Capt.
If you may have and Q's repost and I'll set up my e-mail for you.
Take the advice of the members regarding testing and knowing the complete story in reference to the Hep C. You may need to go outside of the VA to private Dr's and get the required testing. You may need their documentation down the road.
In reference to your question and Law Enforcement employment.
I am now retired after twenty five years in law enforcement, which may be how I acquired Hep. Like when I was bitten by that lycanthrope or the many times I was covered with others blood(who knows). It was only seven years after my retirement date that I was diagnosed. If I were still on the job I would have received an automatic disability pension from the city. It was passed into law a few years back that "Due to the nature of the employment, it is presumed to have been acquired as result of such employment", all I have to do is some how prove to the pension commission and get my regular pension reversed to disability pension. Well any way thats for the lawyers to handle.
Many departments throughout the country have adopted such wording into their civil service law along with HIV and TB status. Some Dept's are conducting baseline testing for all existing Police Officers, including Fire, Corrections and EMT. I believe Philly and Miami have done so and the numbers are way up there, now their are some union battles going on in those jurisdictions and now some unions are telling their officers to get tested on their own.
Go to google and type Hepatitis C, then go to search within these results and type in Law Enforcement or First Responders, you'll be surprised on how many sites their are. See if their is anything for your state or jurisdiction. Some jurisdictions will do their own medical exam, some will require that you supply all documents from your Dr's. everyone is different.
Keep in mind that your VA records and all medications (AD's ??)can easily be investigated by the jurisdiction. Our medical plans are a great source for that info and you signed over authorization for them to acquire and review that info when you applied for employment.
All I can advise is to know your complete status with the Hep. try to find out the policy in your jurisdiction and try to ask questions from existing officers without asking any questions, if you know what I mean. Remember some jurisdictions do not look at the person, they only see the nickles and dimes on how much you will cost them further down the road.
Good Luck and Gods Speed.
Capt.
If you may have and Q's repost and I'll set up my e-mail for you.
You're not even a cop yet and you're already thinking of lying through an act of omission.
If you have HepC and get into a bloody brawl you'll be a dangerous as a dirty needle.
Any cop that hits the beat knowing that he, (or she), has HIV, HCV, or the like, is as low as the lowest junkie or *****!
If you have HepC and get into a bloody brawl you'll be a dangerous as a dirty needle.
Any cop that hits the beat knowing that he, (or she), has HIV, HCV, or the like, is as low as the lowest junkie or *****!
Thanks for the helpful comments guys,
I am seeing my doctor on Wednesday and I will see that I get tested. Capt, I hope that your lawyers take care of your situation for you.
Thanks again
I am seeing my doctor on Wednesday and I will see that I get tested. Capt, I hope that your lawyers take care of your situation for you.
Thanks again
dtr,
Thanks for your prompt reply. The only issue is that they have access to my medical records. The will read through my military and VA file to determine if there is anything in there that may disqualify me. I think they usually are looking for mental health related issues.
OK, thanks again!
Dave
Thanks for your prompt reply. The only issue is that they have access to my medical records. The will read through my military and VA file to determine if there is anything in there that may disqualify me. I think they usually are looking for mental health related issues.
OK, thanks again!
Dave
Dave,
Unless you have to have a medical exam, and unless the medical exam tests for Hepatitis C, there is no reason for your associates or employer needs to know that you have Hepatitis C.
Even when we treat the disease with medications and go through the treatment proceedures of this virus, people are working and others around do not have to be aware that you are on treatment.
Many people have worked through this and been very successful with keeping there hobbies and employment, without anyone knowing. Then some going through the treatment have had to take time off of work or really downscale with employment and make the treatment process number one priority. There are laws regaring this when you have a present job in position.
The very very important thing is that you do follow up with your doctor and/or hepatitis specialist and see what shape your liver is in due to having the virus. A biopsy will help determine what stage the disease.
You've found a wonderful forum here to gather information regarding HepC and the treatment of HepC. There are the most brave and wonderful people who share on this forum. There is an over abundance of accurate information coming from us who have and have had Hepatitis C. Some are just finding out and others have known for a long time that they as well, have the disease.
Do your own research and be most diligent with having this checked out throughly. Get back with your doctor and follow up well. Ask lots of questions and read through some of the archive posts here on this site to see what other questions are to ask and what the answers will be. Initial questions and what the procedures are for follow up and thourough examinations to see what hepatitis C has done to your health.
Good luck...ask away ! Welcome aboard. You are not alone in your fight and determination to whip this virus.
~dtr.
Unless you have to have a medical exam, and unless the medical exam tests for Hepatitis C, there is no reason for your associates or employer needs to know that you have Hepatitis C.
Even when we treat the disease with medications and go through the treatment proceedures of this virus, people are working and others around do not have to be aware that you are on treatment.
Many people have worked through this and been very successful with keeping there hobbies and employment, without anyone knowing. Then some going through the treatment have had to take time off of work or really downscale with employment and make the treatment process number one priority. There are laws regaring this when you have a present job in position.
The very very important thing is that you do follow up with your doctor and/or hepatitis specialist and see what shape your liver is in due to having the virus. A biopsy will help determine what stage the disease.
You've found a wonderful forum here to gather information regarding HepC and the treatment of HepC. There are the most brave and wonderful people who share on this forum. There is an over abundance of accurate information coming from us who have and have had Hepatitis C. Some are just finding out and others have known for a long time that they as well, have the disease.
Do your own research and be most diligent with having this checked out throughly. Get back with your doctor and follow up well. Ask lots of questions and read through some of the archive posts here on this site to see what other questions are to ask and what the answers will be. Initial questions and what the procedures are for follow up and thourough examinations to see what hepatitis C has done to your health.
Good luck...ask away ! Welcome aboard. You are not alone in your fight and determination to whip this virus.
~dtr.
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