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hepc and murder

I came across this news article, although spitting is just gross being charged with attemped murder because you spit on someone and have hepc doesn't seem right.  Are people in power really that clueless when it comes to hepc?


ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Alaska authorities say 29-year old man with a contagious disease is charged with attempted murder after he spit on a hospital worker.

A corrections official says Andre LaFrance of Wasilla has hepatitis C and is being held in solitary confinement and on a suicide watch at the Mat-Su Pretrial Facility in Palmer.

Corrections Sgt. Walter Erickson says LaFrance is "very very unstable."

Charges filed Tuesday against LaFrance also include harassment.

State troopers were notified Monday morning after the assault at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. Troopers say LaFrance "intentionally transferred a dangerous bodily fluid" onto the worker.

Bail initially was set at $50,000. Erickson says it has since been reduced to $2,500.

Charging documents are not immediately available.
21 Responses
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476246 tn?1418870914
Just when you thought you'd seen it all....
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Avatar universal
Ohhhhhhhh - so that's how I got it..  Now I just have to remember who spit on me.  Perhaps it was the neighbor's pesky grandchild ????
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179856 tn?1333547362
Wow indeed you go girl that is really awesomeness!!!!!!!!!!!
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Avatar universal
You go Sue!!!
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Avatar universal
I just found the article.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ALASKA_SPITTING_CHARGE?SITE=NYMID&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
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Avatar universal
You comments are hysterical. Actually this guys charges have been reduced to assualt. I got a call from the AP last night and they asked us why a judge would lessen the charges. So I told them.  Apparently the Director of Health in Alaska believes the virus can sometimes be transmitted by spitting. I think the AP journalist understood. We'll see when and if the story gets picked up.
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Avatar universal
Your reasoning made me laugh out loud !!!
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Avatar universal
"On a suicide watch"  Is that incase he spits streight up and it comes down on him?

Griz
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92903 tn?1309904711
he may have told them to blow it out their a-s-s!

Can't they turn the other cheek? That's what you do when you're puttin' lip stick on a pig.
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Avatar universal
Once again this stems from lack of education about HCV.  Attempted murder is ridiculous.

I do think laws against spitting make sense in some cases but not HCV.   There are assault laws about spitting in many states. These laws came about from people that had HIV spitting on cops , guards, etc.

HIV is one of the diseases that can be spread by spit.
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1491755 tn?1333201362
Pretty flippin' sad.  
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446474 tn?1446347682
The Wasilla area has never been known for its acumen.
"You Betcha!"

:  ))

Hectorsf
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475300 tn?1312423126
I have heard it all now!!  From paid officials, a hospital and a judge to boot.
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Avatar universal
What an idiotic story!
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Avatar universal
They could have done a full cavity search because he may have told them to blow it out their a-s-s!  That's what I would have said.
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96938 tn?1189799858
I think that hospital worker referenced in the article posted a question here about transmission.

It makes me wonder..if the spitter was accused of having bad oral hygiene would they have done a cavity search?

Maybe it's a clever way for the spitter to get a free PCR and/or antibody test.
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Avatar universal
Looks like one of our spitting fighters  is in a bit of trouble me thinksgst!!
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Avatar universal
LOL!  Thanks.
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Avatar universal
"but contracting the virus from saliva is also a possibility"

I REFUDIATE THAT!!!
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446474 tn?1446347682
Hepatitis C can't be spread that way (saliva to skin) and a charge of attempted murder for spitting seems a little harsh (harassment, yes) even in the "enlightened" state of Alaska.

But there is more nonsense...

Intelligence appears to be in short supply these days and not just in Alaska.
From the Health section of "Fair and Balanced" Fox News....

....Hepatitis C is a contagious virus, which infects the liver. It is usually transmitted by exposure to infected blood, but contracting the virus from saliva is also a possibility.

Alaska State Trooper Ryan Mattingley reported that LaFrance "claimed to be suicidal and wanted to hurt or kill himself. Staff was attempting to restrain him until troopers could arrive.Andre stated he would spit on the staff if placed in restraints."

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/01/19/man-hepatitis-c-faces-attempted-murder-charge-spitting-nurse/#ixzz1BW8Vey34

Hectorsf
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Avatar universal
Spitting is gross but charged with attempted murder?  That's bull-s-hit and the bail reduction says they know it too!

Helpful - 0
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