Even In Death It appears that people with hepatitis C are being discriminated against even when they are dead!! Workers at the Hepatitis C Council have received feedback from several sources about a number of discriminatory incidents that have taken place at funerals. In the instances reported, funeral directors have presumed that the recently deceased individual is hepatitis C positive, particularly in cases where the cause of death has been by overdose. Some funeral directors are instructing family members and friends to avoid touching and kissing the deceased person. The reason given is to protect others from catching hepatitis C. In a state of grief and distress, and with limited knowledge of hepatitis C transmission, funeral guests have complied with funeral directors' directions. By doing so these family members and friends have missed a significant opportunity to farewell their loved one in a full and meaningful way. This heightened level of distress is compounded by newfound anxieties relating to risk of transmission via previous contact with the deceased. Hepatitis C is a blood borne virus that is transmitted by infected blood gaining direct access into the bloodstream of another. Kissing and hugging poses no risk for transmission given that: a) blood is rarely present in these circumstances; and b) entry into the bloodstream is difficult and unlikely. When these individuals discover at some later point the facts about hepatitis C transmission, they are left with feelings of renewed grief and anger.
Is this Discrimination? The behaviour being demonstrated by some funeral directors could well be discriminatory, and relatives and friends may be able to lodge a complaint under the federal Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). The complaint would be lodged under the part of the Act that makes it illegal to discriminate against somebody because of his or her relationship with a person with a disability. Within the Act, relatives and friends are called “associates�. What this means, is that even if you don’t have a disability it is still possible to lodge a complaint about disability discrimination if you are treated differently to someone else in the same situation, because you are an associate of someone who has hepatitis C. If you would like to talk to someone about making a complaint under the DDA you can ring David Arblaster at the Disability Complaints Service on 8234 5699.
What the Hepatitis C Council of SA is doing About This? Our Metro Hepatitis C Educator Vanessa Behne has contacted the Funeral Association of SA to voice our concerns and to provide training about Hepatitis C to it's members in May. We would also like to hear from you if you have had a similar experience so that we can continue to document how widespread this practise is and to advocate for change. Leslie Wightman & David Arblaster
Next Edition Your rights & issues to consider before disclosure Hepatitis C Community News
Issue 16
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