I guess that means the government has my records and anyone else who has been to AIM to be tested for STDs. See link

The article says "...forced the AIM Healthcare Foundation (AIM) to turn over their records both Darren James and Lara Roxx, ... as well as the records of the first- and second-generation of performers who may have been exposed to the virus."

Unless you're a porn star and were a first or second generation performer, how would they get your records?

On a unrelated note... I thought it was interesting they want to ban facials in porn films.  I guess there goes all of those "artful" bukkake films.

(http://www.bukkake.com/glossary/bukkake-definition.html for the uninitiated)

When the government tried to grab their records~~supposedly relating to late term partial birth abortions~~ they resisted and fought them in court (and won).

They understand privacy rights, evidently.  I haven't understood how AIM has gotten around HIPPA regulations when disclosing information about the people they test.  If people haven't signed consents to release that information, health care providers can be held criminally liable for talking about health care treatment~~including that a person even SOUGHT treatment.

I certainly didn't realize there was any double standard for positive HIV tests.  (I'd thought those types of tests were MORE sensitive.)

Elise [email protected]

"The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services and the  California’s Occupational Safety and Health  Administration (Cal/OSHA) have declared the current HIV scare  as an official outbreak and have forced the AIM Healthcare  Foundation (AIM) to turn over their records"

It's just a little bizarre to me.  2 people have it and they are calling it an Outbreak, as if these are the first 2 HIV positive people in the country.  Sure, it's more of a risk in their industry, but considering the number of people who have AIDS already, I'd say that it already broke out...

And I wouldn't even care if someone looked at my records. What would they see? Someone who is very conscientious about their health and gets routine screening. Nothing to hide..

I dunno - perhaps because the whole point of their job is FUCKING?

If there was killer exploding basketball shoe issue- you bet that basketball teams would be under a microscope?

That said I DO actually agree with you that this is a pretty minor issue affecting very few people- unless the escorting by PSs is where they see the danger...  

The good part of that is the kind of guys who can afford the PSE?-  they mighthave the best healthcare around- obviously too much money and likely very scared of bringing something home, with half of it on the line...

BTW- to catch the virus, don't you pretty much habve to be the catcher?   I though I read that giving is way less risky than taking...

all they will see is a bunch of negatives.

ML

Into the wrong hands.

In the Planned Parenthood case they were shielding all sorts of birth control and std planning and treatment...Those people that may not have been as fortunate as you & I (I'm lucky to be covered by private insurance), Sedona and actually contracted a disease or unwittingly became pregnant.

For an entity of the enormity of Planned Parenthood to stand firm against the government, is to me, just very comforting, to say the least.

I guess the bottom line is that for a person's comfort, they should feel as though their medical records are private and personal.

Elise [email protected]

"BTW- to catch the virus, don't you pretty much habve to be the catcher?"

The risk is much higher if you are "the catcher" as you put it, but by no means does that eliminate the risk if you are not.  Any small cut or lesion could open the way for the virus.

Thanks-  I knew it was not the same level of risk for both-

I DO understand there IS a risk for both...

the government at all levels (fed, state, and local) has, at times, displayed rather intrusive behavior in regard to individual rights. These sporadic invasions of liberties have been conducted in a very non-partisan way - both by liberal democrats and conservative republicans, based upon their particular agenda at the time. If I had any expectation of maintaining privacy, I most certainly would not seek medical attention through any public agency, including Planned Parenthood. I would only consider utilizing the services of a private physician.

It is with somewhat similar reasoning that I would never provide any personal information (i.e., employer, home phone, etc.) to commercial companions. Foremost, I seriously question the credibility of any lady that says she destroys all the information we give to her. It is just way too easy nowadays to simply file away or archive that info. Remember, regardless of what and how they tell you, these ladies are in sales (they are just selling intimacy and fantasies). And, whatever else you may want to believe, you are basically still their client.  

It's not that I think all escorts are going to do anything malicious with that information herself (although I do believe there is a percentage of paid ladies that are unscrupulous). However, I am more concerned if the lady is arrested and all her computer equipment is confiscated. Equally troubling, I also imagine it is quite possible that some former disgruntled client that happens to be rather tech-savvy could easily hack into her files and wreak havoc with that info. Anyway, it is not worth my worry to see those ladies who require this information, when the majority of them don't.

The bottom line is -- whatever type of provider you see, whether it be the health care type or sexual care type, give some thought before giving out personal information.

And I think records should be kept private. But, what if a nurse or health care practitioner, or your day care provider was HIV positive? Would you feel you had a right to know?
Hard to say when something should be revealed...

I have private health insurance (temporarily), and when I don't I go to Planned Parenthood (we don't have AIM here). I set my Outlook reminders and go.

No matter what, there is no excuse for anyone having multi-partnered sex NOT to have routine testing! It's a responsibility!

Unless I'm having intimate relations with them.

OR, if say, like when I had my child, the Anesthetist messed up and did a needle prick of her finger.  (I didn't know if it happened BEFORE or AFTER she was trying to prick my spinal column.)

Otherwise, healthcare professionals take precautions not to come in contact with body fluids, and my daycare provider wouldn't be licking my kid's ocassional bloody knees.

Casual contact, even intimate contact with the correct precautions probably won't spread the virus, from what I've learned.

Even so, I do recommend monthly testing for those of us that have "high risk" contacts, even when we do everything we can to make them safe.

Elise [email protected]

My buddies in Cali tell me that they want to find all of the porn stars who have been escorting. Very scary times indeed with this government instrusion on folks privacy.

I think we are kidding ourselves if we don't realize that anything we consider private is truly available to policing by the authorities on their demand?  I'm not saying we have to accept this but...anyhow my experience with AIM:

I went to AIM once, while I was changing doctors and registered myself as a CSW. I was very curious about the system. I think a lot of Sharon, and had met her at tradeshows in Vegas. I made sure to imprint upon them that I was NOT the porn star Felicia Fox, so to be careful not to get anything mixed to hurt either Ms. Fox or myself.  (Ms. Fox doesn't escort, I don't do films, but we both know each other) According to the way AIM does "business", all pornstars and CSW's are liable and responsible in the sense that  anyone can call in and find the status of their test results under the subject's stage name.  It was interesting, I even asked a couple of clients to call and tell me how it was being handled from the other side.  Obviously I cannot speak for someone in Mathesar's position, but I did have a civvie male friend go with me, and he used all fake info, and still received his results, but I believe he had to go pick them up.

One thing I found was that the OUT OF THE CLOSET people are extremely connected and very very helpful.  There is choice of anonymity by using numbers.  They do give info to other sources for STD screening as they only do HIV testing.  But they encourage STD testing very very heavily.  In fact, one's susceptibily to HIV is largely enhanced by presence of std!

As far as Out of the Closet, I used them just to try and see what they were like and I feel they are extremely up to date.  I went to the one on Sunset Boulevard near Gower, only 2 weeks ago on the way back from somewhere because it was convenient and I was curious how they handled things.

They are extremely sensitive to their  clients' comfort and privacy (you needn't reveal name at all, you are given a number, needn't show id, etc.  Again, They will refer you to std testing centers since they only test HIV.  

They are willing to share knowledge of other behaviors in the community without naming groups or names. You can get a sense of where you are in terms of across the board sexual behaviors, which I think can help give you an idea of what's going on in the general public.  OOTC people are open to your questions.  
I met some amazing people there, considerate and nonjudgemental (they deal largely with the gay community, for those who don't know).  

As far as I am concerned, I do what I do and I know that the powers that be can stop me or get any info they want on me. But for a client? They never take your name.  You neednt' give an address either.  they give you a number, so then if they don't have your address and your don't go back for your results it's  your loss.  They don't force anything.   It's was the closest thing to buying the test at Savon or RiteAid and then calling in the number.

Do be aware that they do interview you for about 10-20 min, but they do not give you a lie detector test, either.


-- Modified on 4/22/2004 7:21:33 PM

that condoms are seized as "evidence" during a bust (what, I'd be innocent if I had unprotected sex?) some health officials seems to vent on those seeking to be responsible by subjecting themselves to testing and interviewing on their most intimate of habits and behaviors, because we all know that sex is dirty.  And we are supposed to ..... NEVERMIND.

That is why in my post below I went on and on about the Out of the Closet people.  I do believe that now, more and more healthworkers are realizing that the system and the attitudes that they are workers project need to be more userfriendly. BTW, I paid way more than my civvie friend did for my AIM test because I did tell them I was a CSW, and chose to go on record.

As for privacy, I've been told so many times, there is no longer such a thing as privacy.  Ouch!!!




-- Modified on 4/22/2004 7:32:20 PM

I've been to AIM a total of four or five times I think. I got my Hep A and Hep B vaccinations from them. I also got their "everything panel" of STD tests each time. The panel doesn't actually test for everything but it does test for the most common STDs including HIV.

I never had to show any ID. I did give AIM my real name and phone number at work. I never gave them any other contact information. I certainly didn't want anything to be mailed to my home. I have always gone to their office to pick up my test results. I don't think they care one way or the other about having your correct name if you aren't in the industry.

I always found the people at AIM to be courteous and efficient. I did meet Sharon Mitchell once and was extremely impressed (blown away is more accurate--she has charisma).

A fringe benefit for a male is that while filling out your paper work you get to watch all the young women entering and leaving the office. Unfortunately, most of them are in the company of males (probably boyfriends) who are somewhat intimidating.

I didn't know that ladies could register as CSWs and anyone could call in to find out their HIV status using their stage name. Very interesting. Now if we could only figure out a way that CSWs could determine the HIV status of potential customers without violating anyone's privacy we would have a potentially great system in place.

Or we would have if government wasn't so intrusive.

Mathesar

something one doesn't often see.  We have to give her a lot of credit for doing as much as she has, particularly in the climate of the times while she was building the clinic, but STILL,  again, we ARE all subject to the powers that be.  Until somehow, and often through much adversity we can change it all.  

Yes, I did register as a CSW.  When I went to Out of the Closet I did not, as I did not see the point.  But I did say that I have a lot of partners because I am in between relationships and that condoms break and slip off more than I care to know.  That's my story and I'm stickin to it!

I am glad that you had good treatment at AIM.  I did as well, and so did my friend(they were very sensitive to the name issues and protecting identity in that sense) and to my friend's privacy.  They really do see the bottom line....detecting and containing communicable diseases.  ISN'T THAT THE WHOLE POINT?   That is what I appreciate so much about AIM, and Out of the Closet, and I am certain that if healthcare workers finally decide to get off the judgement wagon, that we can all make some headway and then maybe someday(?) government will follow the will of the people?  I will stop here else I'll have to submit my lack of knowledge to the politics board.  And that is far too emotional a click away trip for me to take.  


-- Modified on 4/22/2004 8:38:08 PM

"It's was the closest thing to buying the test at Savon or RiteAid and then calling in the number."

Hmm, your quote is news to me if you mean an HIV test.  How does it work?

I've used it and it works well.  You follow the instructions, send in the blood sample and then call in a few days later using the number they've assigned as "you".  You are told whether or not you are infected. I used this system about 5 years ago when clinics were not that user friendly and I did not have a regular doctor.  I was very pleased with the way they hendled it.

Current Info:  

I just called RiteAid to see if they still carry them, there was one left in stock at the pharmacy, and they are not sure if they are going to reorder.  Savon Express (24 hours) on Wilshire carries them, and there are plenty in stock (213-385-5050) (don't know where you are located, but this is in L.A. near Beverly Hills)

Here is the phone number:  800-448-8378 to speak directly with the company.

Here is the website:  www.homeaccess.com

Price: $54.99

Thanks for the info. I never heard of this.