Monona Rossol on thu 9 may 96
Well, I'm impressed. I followed the HIV thread and didn't see unthinking
emotional responses to this highly charged question. I was especially gratified
to see the response from Keith Chervenak from the Division of Infectious Disease
at University Hospitals of Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University. And
his bottom line about transmission, we "do not know," is precisely on target.
It is unlikely--but we do not know.
The other two important points participants brought out were:
1. We need to protect persons with compromised immune systems-- not only from
diseases we carry, but from sources of bacteria such as are growing in abundance
in the reclaimed clay barrel and from molds such as those that abound potteries.
Bacteria and molds which are harmless to us may cause life-threatening
infections in people whose immune response is weak.
2. We need to consider other infectious diseases such as some forms of
hepatitis and infectious skin conditions that can be easily passed by casual
contact. Just plain wet clay is a good medium of exchange for many
disease-causing bacteria and viruses.
For protection of both patients and staff, I recently closed the ceramics
program in an art therapy department of a major metropolitan hospital. Clay
work cannot be recommended for hospital and institutional art or therapy
programs if patients are carriers of highly communicable infectious diseases or
have severely compromised immune systems.
Clay work *is* an option for HIV positive people without full- blown AIDS. But
others working in the pottery have the right to know that while transmission of
HIV is unlikely, there are no guarantees. I think you will find that most
people are so compassionate that they will take this small risk. But to insist
that there is no risk or to withhold information is unfair to all parties.
Some people intent on protecting the rights of those who are HIV positive have
forgotten about the rights of each of us to decide for ourselves what risks we
choose to accept.
We are all in this buggie world together. Be nice, but be fair.
Monona Rossol, industrial hygienist with Arts, Crafts and Theater Safety.
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