Am I not allowed to work with ``vulnerable population`` because of my hepatitis B status

8 posts / 0 new

Thu, 2010-07-22 23:22

takeitslowly

Hello fellow babblers, apparently my life is not hard enough due to my trans identity, but As far I am also born with the Hap B virus through neonatal infection, I am still a Hapetitis B carrier although i have never been active and feel healthy. I want to work with people with disabilities , but I found out during the interview that I cannot become a volunteer for people with mental disabilities because of my health disability. Is this legal , and can i ever become a social worker or a nurse or anything like that because i cannot provide an immunization record (since I have it)

I tried to google for this information, but I just cannot find anything! please help

Issues Pages:

Civil Liberties Watch

Fri, 2010-07-23 01:26

takeitslowly

So I know i might be just talking to myself, but I cant believe nobody seems to talk about this issue when so many south east asian people are affected by Hepatitis B

As i was researching on the issue of Hepatitis B, i `ve read alot of articles about the Chinese government and their discriminatory practises against those who are Hep B carriers, even the Toronto Star has mentioned it

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/458421

But hell, what about in Canada

I cant even volunteer to have any casual contact with people with intellectual disabilities according to this particular organization that i shall not name , i just dont freaking understand. how absurd! I have never been an active hepatitis b carrier, i am not a threat to anyone unless i am dripping in blood while volunteering. I am absolutely demoralized, and i am tired and i am ranting like a crazy person because i have to work at dead end jobs that barely allow me to survive, but i also found out that i am a sick and unhealthy individual and that need to stay away from people i want to work with!

http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/reprint/159/1/45.pdf

I found this article from 1998 advising against mandatory screening for Hap B. It is so sneaky that you have to provide an immuniziation record for Hap B, it doesn`t directly ask if you have Hap B, but by forcing someone to produce that record, it is really saying anyone who is tested positive might not be allowed to go into the health care sector or even social services work.

I was going to apply for for the George Brown program at the School of Social and Community Services but they require Hepatitis B immunization as part of their Clinical pre placement health requirements, this is so unfair! Now what the hell am i going to study

http://www.georgebrown.ca/preplacement/index.aspx

However in the U.S, one actually does not need to disclose that information , so the U.S is actually more progressive on this issue than in Canada

http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/hepB/HBV_Disclosure_FS.html

I am so frustrated and angry and upset.

``If you are embarking on a medical career that potentially exposes your patients to your blood (through needlesticks or surgery), then you must tell your supervisor. But if there is no risk of blood exposure in your work duties, federal law says disclosure is neither necessary nor legally required.``

Fri, 2010-07-23 18:27

bagkitty

takeitslowly: I am not certain what municipality or province you are located in, but I would strongly suggest you contact the local HIV/AIDS groups and request information on legal remedies - they are the groups most likely to have the resources and references "at their fingertips" to help in this particular matter. It sounds very much like a repeat of the HIV-panics and, while I do not have the references on hand, there are analogous legal precedents that can be referred to. Hope this is of some help.

Fri, 2010-07-23 18:44

kropotkin1951

You should contact the Human Rights advocacy groups in your area. Many places have at least a free consultation and will be able to advise you whether the rules you face are discriminatory. That would be the avenue I would look at first because it sounds like discrimination but you need someone to tell you whether others have taken on the same issue and what the outcome was.

If you are in BC you might try these people. If not you can find similar organizations in most provinces.

http://www.bchrcoalition.org/files/services_a.html

Sat, 2010-07-24 11:23

mahmud

kropotkin1951 wrote:

You should contact the Human Rights advocacy groups in your area. Many places have at least a free consultation and will be able to advise you whether the rules you face are discriminatory. That would be the avenue I would look at first because it sounds like discrimination but you need someone to tell you whether others have taken on the same issue and what the outcome was.

If you are in BC you might try these people. If not you can find similar organizations in most provinces.

http://www.bchrcoalition.org/files/services_a.html

I agree. But it appears that Takeitslowly is from Toronto (reference to George Brown College). Thus the Ontario Human Rights Commission does have "guides" that cover a whole range of 'disabilities' and the right information.

PS: The OHRC having shown incompetence and corruption in handling citizens' complaints, it was stripped of that mandate. Now its -almost- sole role is 'education'.

Sat, 2010-07-24 11:53

takeitslowly

Thank you Kroptkin and bagkitty!

I live in Toronto. I have contacted AIDS & Sexual Health Infoline and the Canadian Liver Foundation. I still havent gvotten a clear answer. I was told to contact the Toronto Public Health Nurse. The expert at the Canadian Liver Foundation told me that non profirt charitable status organizations (especially if they are private) has a right to set their own policies to prevent Hep B carriers to volunteer or work at their organizations. Many schools, like George Brown college and other institutions also require one to produce immunization record for Hep B so there is nothing I can do. I guess i will just work at the call centre with my useless liberal b.a degree for the rest of my life! yay

Sat, 2010-07-24 13:15

Refuge

I went to a college in Toronto for social service and they did not require a hep B record. A friend of mine who went to a different school did have Hep B, she was told she could study but her placements might be limited.

As for the organizations, they vary on their policy. Not going to comment on if it is right or wrong as I don't have enough information on transmission etc to know but if you are trying to fight it and want to work somewhere with people with special needs while you do fight it shop around. Most places that I worked for did not request a Hep B test.

Sat, 2010-07-24 16:04

oldgoat

I've had to have that test on a number of occasions as a condition of employment. In terms of taking a social services course, not getting tested cetainly would limit placements. Some social rec / life skills /employment preparedness programmes I'm aware of demand it of clients who will be involved with food preparation and service for others.

My understanding is that hepititis A/B is something less of an issue since the advent of vaccinations, which I've had, and most employers in my field strongly encourage. Hep C is a big health concern. I'm not any kind of an expert on Hep B trasmission risks. It may be a reasonable precaution and it may not.

BTW, my current employer, CMHA, does not require the test of employees or volunteers.