U.S. porn industry HIV cases prompt investigation

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.reuters.com/article/middleeastCrisis/idUSN18402531

Thu Jun 18, 2009 4:15pm EDT

* Investigators conduct surprise inspection of clinic

* Undisclosed HIV cases raise porn industry concerns

By Dan Whitcomb

LOS ANGELES, June 18 (Reuters) - California health officials are investigating the Los Angeles clinic where a pornographic film actress recently tested positive for HIV, saying it has failed to alert local authorities to cases of sexually transmitted disease in the adult film industry.

Investigators from the state's Division of Occupational Safety and Health on Wednesday conducted a surprise inspection of the Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation in suburban Los Angeles as part of the investigation.

The clinic tests performers in the $12 billion-a-year U.S. adult film industry, which is largely centered in the San Fernando Valley suburbs of Los Angeles, and issues work certificates for those who come up clean.

"We are investigating the clinic," Cal-Osha spokeswoman Erika Monterroza told Reuters.

"All talent goes through them for monthly testing and it seems like this clinic had received positive results for HIV as well as other sexually transmitted diseases and didn't report them to the county health department," Monterroza said.

The inspection comes a week after Los Angeles health authorities disclosed that there had been 16 unpublicized cases of HIV among porn performers since 2004.

Officials also expressed dismay that the unnamed actress who was found to be positive for HIV on June 4 was allowed to work the following day before taking second and third tests.


FULL story at link.

[lindisfarne]

1. I'm amazed at the noticeable lack of right wing outrage or moralizing over this in the main stream

media. I wonder if OSHA is going to get involved, or workers comp?

[cabluedem]

2. Hell the right wing are the largest consumers of porn. nt

[DCKit]

3. Republican Congressmen are going to be scrambling for seats on the Porn Committee.

The only committee where research isn't delegated to staff members.