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Hep C Discussion Forum -> General Discussion -> Discrimination in the medical community against Hepatitis C patients
Post Info TOPIC: Discrimination in the medical community against Hepatitis C patients
Cinnamon Girl


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Discrimination in the medical community against Hepatitis C patients
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Hi again, Candace... I think, and hope, that this dreadfully ignorant attitude is rare among medical professionals, and I agree with what others have said that you`re well rid of him. 

Good luck with finding a first class, intelligent and well informed surgeon to operate on your husband.  I`m sure you`ll be glad when this is over and you can move on, and I`m so sorry you`ve had to endure such a distressing experience. 

Wishing you both all the best...  



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Jill 

(71 yo, lives in UK)

Was Gen 3a, 

24wks Peg Ifn/Riba, Sep 2010 - Mch 2011

UND @ Wk.4, UND @ EOT, 

SVR Nov 2011 --> Still UND @ EOT + 4 yrs.

 

 
CandaceV


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Thank you for all of your replies.  We're working on finding another surgeon. 



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Sydhanrahan


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Hi Candace,

wishing you and hubby all the best. Hard to believe that in this day and age a surgeon could be so ignorant. Not only that, but he had all your husband's medical details in front of him from the beginning.

i agree with the others here, your husband's health is too important to leave in the hands of such ignorance and incompetence.

Good luck,

Syd



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Contracted Hep C 1969. Genome Type 2, treatment naive. Began 12 week RIBA/sof/Dac on 12/11/15. Cirrhosis. VL before treatment 4m. Treatment extended another 12 weeks without Riba. No virus detected at 9 weeks.
wendyo


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Hi Candace,

Gonna go with my brother Jimmy on this....I wouldn't want him touching me or anyone I care about. I like to believe that all happens as it should and he was not meant to be your husbands surgeon, that there is a better one out there for you. Have had 2 incidents with tattoo artists and HCV and one refusing to work on me and another sharing my private health information with other folk. So gald I believe in karma

praying for the best surgeon for your husband to be introduced to you soon.

wendy

 

 

 



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Wendy 53 y/o, DX 1994, geno 1A F1

1999 TX 1 - Inter -non responder 2001 TX 2 - Peg + Riba - viral load tripled and taken off

T3:  Harvoni 12 weeks Sept. 19, 2015 ALT 41 AST 30 VL 541800 UND at EOT and SVR 24 ALT 18 AST 26 platelets 223

 
Linuxter


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Interesting read Tig ...

 

Dave



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63yy,HCV,2b,F3-A1, Sof/Riba,12wks Tx   SOT: 1/20/16, HCV-RNA 9,816,581, ALT 56, Hb 14.6

4wk: HCV-RNA <15 Detected, ALT 15, AST 17, Hb 13.6 EOT: 4/12/16, ALT 18 , Hb 12.9176a2f85d05d9c965eafe199f2ba9ba5.jpg SVR Achieved 7/8/16

 
Tig


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I was looking for information on this and came across this blog. They discuss it briefly and touch on medical justice and ethics. It's a short read and I found the comment section interesting. It's dated 2012, so we can be hopeful the incidence of this is becoming less frequent. Sadly, as witnessed by you and your husband, Candace, there is a long way to go.

Medical Justice?



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Tig

68yo GT1A - 5 Mil - A2/F3 - (1996) Intron A - Non Responder, (2013) Peg/Riba/Vic SOT:05/23/13 EOT:12/04/13 SVR 9+ years!

Hep C FAQ   Lab Ref. Ranges  HCV Resistance

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JimmyK


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Sounds like your suspicions were correct and it is sad in this day and age that a surgeon could have such unfounded fears.

At the same time I don't think I would want such an ignorant person operating on me. If he is afraid of coming in direct contact with blood, not to mention blood to blood contact, maybe he is afraid he is not good enough of a surgeon to avoid such. If that is the case, or simply his ignorance the good riddance. 

Ignorance = Uninformed. 

No way an uninformed person will ever be allowed to cut into someone I love.

You guys are in my prayers and all will work as it should.

JimmyK

 



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Harvoni TX 2 12 weeks. UND weeks 4, 12 and now EOT + 4 Weeks. SVR-12 09/29/16. All Glory, Honor and Thanks be to God.

"I go to war with the brothers I trust."
CandaceV


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We have our answer.  The surgeon's office says, "Dr. ... had a change of opinion and there's a referral on file to any other Urologist of your choosing."

There's a teaching hospital near us and that's where we'll be going.  The first question will be asking how many patients with Hep C he's operated on.

There's a lot of bleeding involved with kidney surgery, it takes several hours to cauterize the bleeders.  To cut out a 1" tumor off the bottom of the kidney and stop the bleeding is 3 hours of surgery.  There is a lot of blood involved.

That being said, I've been with him for 33 years.  He's a master carpenter and he always had a band-aid on little cuts on his hands, to the point of stuffing his Christmas stocking with band-aids, it was a family joke.  We shared nail clippers, had unprotected sex and we would take fork-fulls of food off each other's plates.  I'm negative.  You would think there are enough protective barriers to blood in the operating room to address any irrational fear. 

Thanks to everyone for the replies.



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Cinnamon Girl


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HI Candace, I`m very sorry your husband had to go through this, having his surgery cancelled at the last minute must have been a very stressful experience, for you both.

Discrimination certainly does exist, among all spheres of life, but the medical profession surely should be above that.  I agree with Jimmy that you should try not to jump to conclusions here.  There could be many perfectly valid reasons why this happened, and I`d want to ask some questions and try to find out exactly why his surgery didn`t go ahead as planned, and when it can be rescheduled.

I very much hope you can get this resolved, and as soon as possible, and I wish you both the best of luck.  It`s a very worrying time for you both but I`m sure there must be a way forward. 

 



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Jill 

(71 yo, lives in UK)

Was Gen 3a, 

24wks Peg Ifn/Riba, Sep 2010 - Mch 2011

UND @ Wk.4, UND @ EOT, 

SVR Nov 2011 --> Still UND @ EOT + 4 yrs.

 

 
wendyo


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Very sorry to hear you and your husband got all geared up for his surgery and then the big let down and uncertainty of why. But yes, call Monday and if he won't reschedule you got your answer and can proceed. Keeping you in my prayers for a desirable outcome.

wendy



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Wendy 53 y/o, DX 1994, geno 1A F1

1999 TX 1 - Inter -non responder 2001 TX 2 - Peg + Riba - viral load tripled and taken off

T3:  Harvoni 12 weeks Sept. 19, 2015 ALT 41 AST 30 VL 541800 UND at EOT and SVR 24 ALT 18 AST 26 platelets 223

 
JimmyK


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Greetings again,

 

I certainly understand your concern, and it may well be valid. Some people are pretty ignorant. If it is a fact the guy is as you suspect he may be, then by all means move to one that has some common sense about him.

The times you and your husband are going through right now are tough. It will get better, you will see.

Y'all are in my prayers.

 

Regards

 

JimmyK



__________________

Harvoni TX 2 12 weeks. UND weeks 4, 12 and now EOT + 4 Weeks. SVR-12 09/29/16. All Glory, Honor and Thanks be to God.

"I go to war with the brothers I trust."
CandaceV


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JimmyK wrote:

Greetings,

I have not seen any discrimination in the Medical Community. I do know that those of us that have HepC in many cases look down on ourselves, hide it, feel ashamed. That can lead to misunderstanding or thoughts of how others feel about us.

I do know this. If a Doctor was going to open me up, I would not want him taking a chance of passing an infection my way.

If a Doctor feels ill, he is not supposed to perform surgery.

Don't jump to conclusions nor judge just yet. See what happens next.

 

Regards

 

JimmyK

 

Thanks for your reply.  My husband has had 2 occasions of discrimination by a dentist and another dental hygenist.  That's why it's the first conclusion he jumps to.  This doctor felt fine 10 minutes before surgery prep, so my husband is suspicious.  I'm going to call the doctor on Monday to attempt a reschedule, we'll see what we're told.

 

 



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JimmyK


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Greetings,

I have not seen any discrimination in the Medical Community. I do know that those of us that have HepC in many cases look down on ourselves, hide it, feel ashamed. That can lead to misunderstanding or thoughts of how others feel about us.

I do know this. If a Doctor was going to open me up, I would not want him taking a chance of passing an infection my way.

If a Doctor feels ill, he is not supposed to perform surgery.

Don't jump to conclusions nor judge just yet. See what happens next.

 

Regards

 

JimmyK

 



__________________

Harvoni TX 2 12 weeks. UND weeks 4, 12 and now EOT + 4 Weeks. SVR-12 09/29/16. All Glory, Honor and Thanks be to God.

"I go to war with the brothers I trust."
CandaceV


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Posts: 125
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Hello, my husband has it and went for treatment, however a kidney lesion was also found.  His Gastro told him to treat the kidney lesion first, then he would get treatment.

The urologist said he should have the kidney lesion removed because my husband's brother had kidney cancer.  Full disclosure about his Hepatitis C was given on the paperwork and verbally to the doctor.  Surgery was scheduled for today.

The doctor talked to us this morning.  He asked about the Hepatitis C and was told what the Gastro said - kidney first, then treatment.  He asked how he got it, he said he didn't know, could have been from a surgery in 1976 or a dentist or tattoo.  I told the doctor any pain meds should not contain NSAIDS or Tylenol.

My husband was prepped for surgery.  Instead of performing the surgery, the doctor canceled it.  My husband woke up, went to the recovery room, and I was allowed to join him.  Almost immediately, the hospital suits arrived with gift certificates and gas cards.  They said the doctor wasn't feeling well.

My husband feels this was discrimination due to Hepatitis C.  Any advice?  Thanks so much.

 

 



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