Hiv Infected Nursing Students Get Backing: Thailand

[webfact]

HEALTH

HIV nursing students get backing

PONGPHON SARNSAMAK,

SAOWANEE NIMPANPAYUNGWONG

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- In response to claims by three students that they were forced to move from nursing science to other fields because they had HIV, a foundation will request help from the National Aids Committee.

Reports said the Christian University of Thailand (CUT) had forced the third-year students to change their fields after blood tests showed they were infected with HIV. Some had reportedly submitted a complaint to the Office of the National Human Rights Commission and one contacted the Aids Access Foundation.

Foundation Director Nimit Tienudom said yesterday the organisation would submit the request to the Aids committee chaired by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. It would ask the government and private agencies, including the university, not to force people to have blood tests before job recruitment and educational enrolment.

"To do so violates human rights. Currently, personnel living with HIV are working for public health agencies. So the three students should be allowed to continue their study in nursing science until they graduate. I would like the university to understand that although they have HIV, they can work in the public health field," Nimit said.

According to previous news reports, CUT's president Asst Prof Dr Janjira Wongkhomthong had said having the students move to other faculties would help them as it proved they were able to take care of their own health. They would not risk working in places with a danger of infection.

She said two of the students agreed to study in fields not related to healthcare, but the third had not responded to the proposal. This student could follow the two students or claim the tuition fees back before quitting. Other universities have done the same.

Nimit insisted that people with HIV would not transmit the disease to patients as hospitals had hygiene standards and they should not be stigmatised.

-- The Nation 2012-08-30

[Thai at Heart]

Interesting conundrum?

It presumably poses a very small risk to patients but a risk nonetheless. Of course blood tests should not be a requirements for job applications, and but where your own health status effects your own ability to perform the job safely surely they are justified.

I like these cases because they show that people are starting to exercise their constitutional rights and challenge the norm.

[jerrysteve]

In the U.S.A. there would a rather lucrative lawsuit for sure...

and those Nurses would win a bundle of CASH.

[Jane Doe]

How many blood tests do foreigners have to do for their work permit and visa?

[Jay08]

How many blood tests do foreigners have to do for their work permit and visa?

Jane, a medical is required for every work permit, and it includes a blood test.

[Pseudolus]

How many blood tests do foreigners have to do for their work permit and visa?

One. Does not cover HIV though.

[Morakot]

How many blood tests do foreigners have to do for their work permit and visa?

Jane, a medical is required for every work permit, and it includes a blood test.

I doubt that a blood test is always required. TB screening yes, but I never have a blood test for a WP.

Edited August 30, 2012 by Morakot

[thaicbr]

How many blood tests do foreigners have to do for their work permit and visa?

Jane, a medical is required for every work permit, and it includes a blood test.

I doubt that a blood test is always required. TB screening yes, but I never have a blood test for a WP.

maybe you should change that to not yet..... i have had work permits for 5 years ... no blood test.. basic doctors note.. this renewal... blood test and a much more intensive medical. Things are changing.

Edited August 30, 2012 by thaicbr

[MEL1]

You actually have to have a blood test for syphalis now, to get a work permit in Thailand!!

-mel.

[stefb1964]

Some time ago I gave up to find any logic or rational thinking and behaviour. Foreigners wanting a WP need a medical exam which became more intensive lover the years.

Of course everybody has the right to have decent job and I would be the last one to refuse HIV-positive people for working, but letting them be a nurse is asking for troubles. Who is going to take responsability if a patient gets infected ? That might be a serious law suite, whether that would be here in Thailand or elsewhere in the world.

[geriatrickid]

There are a number of nursing positions that offer no risk of HIV transmission to a patient: Nursing jobs run the range from administration to non patient contact . As such, the claim that the nurse could infect someone is moot. What this does is force health professionals who are infected, to conceal their status, which is the worst possible outcome.

Another demonstration of the latent discrimination HIV+ people face in a country where HIV is prevalent. Maybe now some foreigners will understand why there is resistance to HIV testing and why people will go to great lengths to avoid revealing their status as there is overt discrimination.

[rics21]

How many blood tests do foreigners have to do for their work permit and visa?

They just included the syphilis to the test few years back. Otherwise, it is the bare minimum.

Sent from my XT910 using Thaivisa Connect App

[rics21]

I wouldn't want to know, if the nurse with HIV is taking a blood test for my WP.

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[geriatrickid]

I wouldn't want to know, if the nurse with HIV is taking a blood test for my WP.

Sent from my XT910 using Thaivisa Connect App

Every needle stick injury reported in the literature involving possible HIV infection has involved patient to health care provider transmission. The likelihood of transmission from a health care worker taking a blood sample just isn't there.

Edited August 30, 2012 by geriatrickid

[h90]

How many blood tests do foreigners have to do for their work permit and visa?

Jane, a medical is required for every work permit, and it includes a blood test.

yes but you don't need to attend yourself...You can just send the motorbike guy.

[TheFishman1]

Just a thought you would think some one in the medicalfield be it a Nurse student would make sure to have safe sex just my 2 cents

[Thai at Heart]

It appears that IQ tests for parliamentarians might be more necessary.

[rics21]

How many blood tests do foreigners have to do for their work permit and visa?

Jane, a medical is required for every work permit, and it includes a blood test.

yes but you don't need to attend yourself...You can just send the motorbike guy.

Tried with my messenger, he is not sure if he have contracted any STDs as safe sex is not a part of his part.

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[Jingthing]

I see no infection risk to patients and applaud the decision to let them be nurses. People with HIV can live normal lifespans these days. They need to work too!

[uptheos]

You actually have to have a blood test for syphalis now, to get a work permit in Thailand!!

-mel.

You can't blame them considering USA has the highest rate of STD's in the world and Germany the highest rate of syphilis in Europe.

[geriatrickid]

You actually have to have a blood test for syphalis now, to get a work permit in Thailand!!

-mel.

You can't blame them considering USA has the highest rate of STD's in the world and Germany the highest rate of syphilis in Europe.

I don't know where you got your incidence of STIs but I suggest you consult with the WHO numbers. North America incidence is still 1/10 the incidence in sub saharan Africa and 1/14 the incidence in south/SE Asia.

[Bagwan]

How can a nurse infect a patient with the HIV virus? Is it likely that she would use a needle on herself/himself before using it on somebody she is taking blood from? Is it common practice for nurses to exchange bodily fluids with their patients? Is he aware of how the HIV is transmitted? However did this guy ever get to be a doctor let alone an Assistant Professor? Has he ever come across the practice of wearing surgical gloves?

And this from the Christian University of Thailand? Not a very Christian attitude to take is it?

I view this in much the same light as the case a few years back when a competent and experienced lawyer was refused the opportunity to become a Judge because he had some physical infirmity which caused him to limp. Total and utter BS.

[DrTuner]

Violent patient in restraint gets one hand free, grabs the hand of the nurse and during the wrestling cuts are formed and the virus found a path. HIV positives, if wanting to remain in medical, should find a non-customer facing role, such as research assistant.

[Jingthing]

Violent patient in restraint gets one hand free, grabs the hand of the nurse and during the wrestling cuts are formed and the virus found a path. HIV positives, if wanting to remain in medical, should find a non-customer facing role, such as research assistant.

Sounds like mental gymnastics to try to invent an excuse to discriminate against a class of people.

[thaicbr]

Violent patient in restraint gets one hand free, grabs the hand of the nurse and during the wrestling cuts are formed and the virus found a path. HIV positives, if wanting to remain in medical, should find a non-customer facing role, such as research assistant.

Sounds like mental gymnastics to try to invent an excuse to discriminate against a class of people.

Could happen though .. Hiv infected are not a class of people. Unless you state that ALL disease carriers are.

A nurse can and will encounter deranged or violent patients.

sent from my Wellcom A90+

[Jingthing]

Violent patient in restraint gets one hand free, grabs the hand of the nurse and during the wrestling cuts are formed and the virus found a path. HIV positives, if wanting to remain in medical, should find a non-customer facing role, such as research assistant.

Sounds like mental gymnastics to try to invent an excuse to discriminate against a class of people.

Could happen though .. Hiv infected are not a class of people. Unless you state that ALL disease carriers are.

A nurse can and will encounter deranged or violent patients.

sent from my Wellcom A90+

The odds are so small that it is not rational to bar an entire class of people from the medical profession. There is no such thing as no such risk. HIV infection is DIFFICULT to transmit. I can't believe people are even having these phobic discussions anymore.

[DrTuner]

Hospitals are able to decide on their policies. I can see the punch line on an hospital ad though: "All our nurses are tested and HIV free". I imagine that'd be quite effective, too.

[thaicbr]

Violent patient in restraint gets one hand free, grabs the hand of the nurse and during the wrestling cuts are formed and the virus found a path. HIV positives, if wanting to remain in medical, should find a non-customer facing role, such as research assistant.

Sounds like mental gymnastics to try to invent an excuse to discriminate against a class of people.

Could happen though .. Hiv infected are not a class of people. Unless you state that ALL disease carriers are.

A nurse can and will encounter deranged or violent patients.

sent from my Wellcom A90+

The odds are so small that it is not rational to bar an entire class of people from the medical profession. There is no such thing as no such risk. HIV infection is DIFFICULT to transmit. I can't believe people are even having these phobic discussions anymore.

If this was about Syphilis would you be so defensive.. because you cannot get a work permit in Thailand if you have Syphilis...not not just restricting a profession but no work at all.

[Jingthing]

Hospitals are able to decide on their policies. I can see the punch line on an hospital ad though: "All our nurses are tested and HIV free". I imagine that'd be quite effective, too.

That would be a very, very offensive advert especially to HIV patients.

[thaicbr]

Hospitals are able to decide on their policies. I can see the punch line on an hospital ad though: "All our nurses are tested and HIV free". I imagine that'd be quite effective, too.

That would be a very, very offensive advert especially to HIV patients.

Why? It would just be a statement of fact. No different than the girly/boy gogo's advertising.

HIV is a disease. That's all any stigma has been applied by others. But we now know that pretty much any social group can become infected (unless you live alone in a cave on top of a mountain and never interact with other people )

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