Hepatitis C and tattoos?
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Thursday January 24th, 2008 @ 12:48 PM
Filed under: Tattoos
Hi-
I haven’t had any new piercings or tattoos in awhile, and lately I’m getting a hankering for a tattoo. However, there’s a problem…two years ago I was diagnosed with Hepatitis C.
I feel I should be honest with the artist I choose about my disease, although I fear I’ll be turned down flat.
My question is should I expect to be refused service and forget about getting a new tattoo, or will a reputable artist tattoo me anyway (considering all the safety precautions taken I think there’d be minimal risk)?
I haven’t asked anyone personally, because I generally don’t broadcast my condition to just anyone. I already feel like a leper, I don’t need any more grief about having HCV. If I’m going to get turned down, doused in bleach and tossed out of the shop I’m not even going to ask.
Having Hepatitis C shouldn’t influence an artist’s decision to tattoo you, assuming you are otherwise in good health and don’t have problems healing. As you mentioned, each artist should essentially view each client as walking cess-pool, in terms of the health and safety precautions they utilize.
Unfortunately, not every artist is going to approach things that way.
If you have a shop/artist in mind, you may want to consider simply calling them and asking them if your HCV-status is going to be an issue. By calling you can hopefully get an answer to your question without having to let everyone in the world know your status. This also helps you figure out which artists you don’t want working on you…because in most cases, if they are ignorant enough to turn you down because you have HCV…you don’t want to be worked on by them anyway.
Good luck!!
Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | Leave a comment | Trackback
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4 Responses to “Hepatitis C and tattoos?”
I agree. My Dad had Hep C and we wanted tog et matching tattoos. He feels obligated to tell them hes Hep C postive (and I think he should too) and we have been turned away from a few shops.
Annon on January 24th, 2008 at 7:25 pmand when i said “had Hep C” i ment “has” hep c
Annon on January 24th, 2008 at 7:26 pmAgreed all the way Derek!
Also for those who have been turned down specifically for having HCV, depending on your experience, can sue the establishment for discrimination.
Much like how handicap people can sue if treated poorly and if the location isn’t handicap accessible,etc.
Granted shops reserve the rights to refuse who they work on,etc. But refusing because someone has HCV is just wrong in my eyes…As like Derek said we have to treat everyone as if they are cess-pools and contain ALL forms of diseases,etc.
Warren Hiller on January 24th, 2008 at 10:45 pm“As you mentioned, each artist should essentially view each client as walking cess-pool, in terms of the health and safety precautions they utilize.”
all that needs to be said. if a shop says they wouldn’t do it that tells ME that they don’t take the proper precautions which also tells me they’re not a reputable shop so you’re WAYYY better off not getting work done there.
AJ Apathy on January 24th, 2008 at 11:50 pmLeave a Comment