How necessary is it to inform employers about HCV status?
Hepatitis C virus-positive patients face a number of difficulties due to the unfortunate stigma that is attached to this carrier status. Transmission or passing of this virus to others requires that they be exposed to the HCV positive individual’s blood or bodily fluid. In most occupations this is not a risk and can be avoided by common sense. In situations where there is a risk of exposure due to trauma, due to use of needles or knives or other situations of this sort, it is probably best and most appropriate to let the employer know. In most situations including the health care field, this is not a reason to not employ the individuals. Local laws may vary and this needs to be checked locally. If one does inadvertently expose one to blood or bodily fluid, there would be a moral obligation to let the other individual know.
