Surgical employment and HCV

[trustjesuscsfa]

Dear Dr,
I was treated 15 years ago for HCV and have had routine RNA tests which have come back non-detectable. I have had 3 RNA tests from 3 different labs over the past 6 months with the same results. I am a surgical assistant and have been offered a job, which I accepted from a very large hospital institution. I have now been waiting 6 weeks for them to decide on whether or not I am eligible to start orientation. The employee health nurse states that the virus could return at any moment, which I know is false. Is my 30 years experience as a surgical assistant over? This is devastating to me ans my family. I cannot seem to convince the decision makers that antibodies are not contagious. I was honest on my post offer healthcare questionaire because I had a letter from my gastro who stated I was cured and of no risk for transmission. Do not know what to do. Please help.  

[dontworry_behappy1]

The problem is trustinjesus hasn't been hired yet.   They were working as a contracted employee.  Employment that the employer can terminate at will.

[trustjesuscsfa]

I may have to. Florida is a Work-at-will state which says either party can terminate for any reason. It is not a right-to-work state, like labor unions. I don't know much about law, but thjere are employment/discrimination attorneys everywhere down here. I am not a minority so I do not know how much weight a law suit would have. But, I suppose it is worth a try. I just want to work, not sue!

[trustjesuscsfa]

Yes, you are right. It does state that. Also, the SHEA website has guidelines that support me as well. The Society for Healthcare Epidemiolgy of America. They state that guidelines of restrictions should be imposed when you have a viral level greater than10(4) GE/ml. Less than that, no restrictions should be imposed. Again, I have NO level. But, this employee health nurse knows it all and will not listen to me. I have even printed out all of the info I could find and she thinks she knows more than research panels.

[nan535]

You are being denied your livelihood. As i previously posted, you should consult an attorney for legal advice.

Nan

[dontworry_behappy1]

Where disclosing you have or had hepatitis C would be important is if you are
putting someone in danger of being infected.  I know this to be true with other types of employment.  You could have said No to that question.  You don't have to disclose if it has nothing to do with the job.  In this case....it has nothing to do with the job you will be doing.  That question doesn't apply to you.  Your not putting anyone in danger.  If you had hepatitis C and failed to use universal protections...there could be an issue.  

Bottom line it's required to use universal protection in numerous professions.
Anyone who has taken a first aid class is taught these very basic requirements to protect yourself and others.  

[Type0]

Look at CDC web site. It used to say, no limitations for healthcare workers with hep C. Also you can search for Hep C cure definition.