scott@phlpa.UUCP (Scott Scheingold) (04/16/91)
I have recently come across my first case of discrimination due to the fact that I have Aids. I want to know what my available alternatives are as far as this dentist is concerned. I have recently moved and had to find a new dentist I talked to a couple of friends and got a couple of names of dentists that they used. I chose one. I got to this dentists office and filled out the first vist form. I was very honest in answering all of the questions. One of the many questions that was asked was what medications are you taking? I answered with all my meds including DDI. The one other question that was asked was have I been treated for AIDS. I answered yes. Now the doctor took me back to a chair and started to look at the form that I filled out. He asked me what DDI and a couple of my other meds where. I explained that DDI was an experimental aids treatment and also explained the others that he had no idea what they where. He then advised me that he could not preform any work until he had clearance from my regular doctor. I gave him the number. He went to his office and made the phone call wich I did verify with my regular doctor. He came back to me and then put 2 sets of gloves on a mask and glasses on. I had no problem with this because he has to protect himself. Now then he looks in my mouth with his little mirror for 2 seconds. This is no joke 2 SECONDS and says that I have HIV periondontal(sp?) disease and ABSOLUTLY no cavities without even taking an X-ray or poking around and that there is nothing that he can do for me in his office because I have to have a cleaning under the gums and there will be too much "blood letting" to do in his office. I will have to see a periodontist(sp?) and he did not know what doctor would see me due to my condition. I talked to my friend who is HIV - and he had to have the same thing done. It takes about 4 visits to complete and the very same doctor did it before in his office. I have another appointment with a different dentist who I have confirmed will see me knowing my condition. What can I do about this dentist discriminating against innocent people. Or is just another flaw in the twisted system. Scott Scheingold
jrkdmd@dmdscs.com (04/18/91)
In article <1991Apr16.102945.5720@cs.ucla.edu>, scott@phlpa.UUCP (Scott Scheingold) writes: > I have recently come across my first case of discrimination > due to the fact that I have Aids. I want to know > what my available alternatives are as far as this dentist > is concerned. > [TEXT DELETED] This is no joke 2 SECONDS and says that I have > HIV periondontal(sp?) disease and ABSOLUTLY no cavities > without even taking an X-ray or poking around and that there is nothing > that he can do for me in his office because I have to have a > cleaning under the gums and there will be too much "blood > letting" to do in his office. I will have to see a periodontist(sp?) > and he did not know what doctor would see me due to my condition. > I talked to my friend who is HIV - and he had to have > the same thing done. It takes about 4 visits to complete and > the very same doctor did it before in his office. I have > another appointment with a different dentist who I have confirmed > will see me knowing my condition. > > What can I do about this dentist discriminating against > innocent people. Or is just another flaw in the twisted system. > > Scott Scheingold Scott: I commend you for being honest with the practicioners you select for your care. It is a health professional's nightmare of not knowing what patients are being treated for, what drugs are being prescribed elsewhere, etc. The issue of HIV is a very emotionally charged one, people ( including some in the health care arena ) allow fear, ignorance and hysteria get in the way of the facts; I fear that this will not change (in reference to AIDS) until a "cure" (as easy as penicillin for syphlis ) is found. However, I believe that a majority of Health care workers have accepted that AIDS patients can be treated with appropriate precautions. As far as IF discrimination has occured in this case, no one can tell from hearing one side, in a couple of lines in a posting like this; if you feel you have been wronged -- here are some thoughts: The ADA (American Dental Association) has a long-standing policy that all AIDS patients should be treated within the normal scope of the dentists practice for non-AIDS patients. (ie. You may be refered to another facility if they normally do not perform the procedure, or the procedure is sufficiently complex to require specialty treatment. eg. if you needed an extraction and the dentist did not perform extractions routinely he could refer you for that service). Most states have a "PEER-REVIEW" mechanism, whereby disputes or problems between patients are settled by a hearing of "mediating" dentists. (some states are not set up to settle anything but fee disputes, or return fees for treatment that was in someway flawwed etc) -- check with the STATE Dental Association where you are. The practice of dentistry is controlled by a State Board of Dentistry. They also review complaints from patients and can levy fines or suspend/revoke licensure. -- check with the STATE Board of Dentistry. Litigation is always a possibility. There is a Federal Law called something like "Americans with Disabilities Act" (ADA - not to be confused with the American Dental Association ADA) classifying HIV infection as a Disability and prohibiting discrimination against anyone with ANY disability. I do not know if this law has ever been tested yet -- it is relatively new (within the last year or so). Probably the local AIDS support/educational groups can offer some assistance also. Hoping that the new dentist works out well and you receive the treatment which you desire. Best wishes -jrk
th1h+@ANDREW.CMU.EDU (Timothy J. Haggerty) (04/19/91)
Unfortunately, your dentist visit is not a flaw in the system, but a fairly common event. I had a very similar thing happen eight years ago (I admitted to syphillis) and had a dentist freak out on me, and consequently didn't seek dental care for five years. I have heard this happening to other people as well. With the current brouhaha in Florida, I suspect a lot of dentists who were paranoid/scared/or homophobic have developed some justification for their actions. Nevertheless, I think the last thing a PWA needs is to be treated like a leper. My dental experience was one of the most disturbing things that hs happened to me -- to be denied care by a person who has pledged to help other people (Or are dentists exempt from the Hypocratic oath, and rather, just under some pledge to accrue as much capital as possible while inflicting pain?). I would suggest, in particular, that this patient leave the care of this fine practitioner (so knowledgable, in fact, that he can diagnose a condition that necessarily precludes him from treating the patient in the time it take us mere mortals to open our mouths) and find a dental school. In general, people involved in the education of dentists (both teachers and students) are very much aware of the risks involved in caring for the HIV positive, and have some sympathy for the patient. Remember, anyone now in dental school has spent their entire career with the reality of HIV, and is probably less uncomfortable then a practitioner who has been out of school for (in this particular case, I'd bet a very long) while. And of course, you could threaten to sue his ass, just to throw the fear of god into him. Send him a letter detailing your dissatisfaction with his (supposed) care, and cc it to the Lambda Legal fund for documentary purposes as well as the American Dental Association. Anyone who doesn't want to deal with AIDS should get the fuck out of medicine.
scott@bbxsda.UUCP (Scott Amspoker) (04/19/91)
In article <1991Apr18.191410.10183@cs.ucla.edu> th1h+@ANDREW.CMU.EDU (Timothy J. Haggerty) writes: >Unfortunately, your dentist visit is not a flaw in the system, but a >fairly common event. I had a very similar thing happen eight years ago >[story deleted] It's even worse than that. The local news station did a story one night about AIDS in New Mexico. My SO appeared on camera talking about the potential problems in years to come if people continued to ignore AIDS - the usual social commentary. It was never implied or even suggested that he had AIDS. He appeared in the news story along with other "experts". Two days later he went to the dentist. The young hygenist actually shrieked when she saw him. The dentist quietly escorted him out and told him not to come back. Other people in the waiting room watched. The dentist's receptionist happened to be a friend of ours. She pumped the dentist for information before quitting her job in disgust. Apparently, the dentist and several other dentists in the area have this "group" which has an official policy against treating anyone *suspected* of being HIV+ (read homosexual). They even go so far as to keep a list of *suspected* patients (read homosexual). Unfortunately there's not a whole lot one can do about this. It's all hearsay and difficult to prove. I just tell people that this dentist did something unspeakably unprofessional and let their imagination fill in the rest. -- Scott Amspoker | Touch the peripheral convex of every Basis International, Albuquerque, NM | kind, then various kinds of blaming (505) 345-5232 | sound can be sent forth. unmvax.cs.unm.edu!bbx!bbxsda!scott | - Instructions for a little box that | blurts out obscenities.
bredy@alkp.serum.kodak.com (Dan Bredy (x37360)) (05/01/91)
Hi, all! This is my first time posting to this group. I have a question which probably is not related to the subject heading, but nevertheless very important (IMHO). Can animals carry the aids virus? For example, if an animal bites an HIV+ person, can they transmit the virus? Thanx, Dan