Charlie Sheen is HIV + . Well it’s not
really a surprise because he was doing everything for it. Not many are going to
admit it but Mr Sheen epitomized the ultimate male dream which was aptly
described by Steve Han his former assistant (decadent life style) on some trashy American
website. So when finally in an embodiment of the great reality Television he
admitted being HIV+, live in an interview, it was more relief than surprise for
lot of people. He of course did admit that he was coming out now because he was
being blackmailed to keep it secret and he was loosing some money out of it. It
was predictably followed the usual ‘my
chance of celebrity hood’ revelation by an unknown (not now) nurse Amanda Bruce
that she had unprotected sex with Mr Sheen because she loved him and didnt care
about HIV. It was later clarified that, it was not so lovey dovey and she was
on a pill to keep her safe (relatively atleast). Then there was another piece
of news about a video, where Mr Sheen was having oral sex with another man. The
man had sued him (for an amount running into crores) for giving him Herpes. I
wonder if he was rushing to the doctor to take an HIV test as well along with a
number of people Charlie would have partnered in the last 4-5 years. I am sure
there will also be a number of lawsuits which will follow. The BIG QUESTION
however remains whether time has come to have a dialogue about the obligation
of the declaration of HIV+ people especially since it involves the safety and
health of people around them as well. In cases such as Mr Sheen whom I would
personally assess as being in the high risk zone it becomes especially
important. While a few may argue that it would lead to discrimination and
possibly regressive behaviour, it may still not outweigh the argument of the
right to safety of an individual who is operating in close proximity of an HIV+
person. We all know that it has been a fight to end the open and often
illogical brandishing of those with HIV but ask that one person who would have
contracted the virus because they simply weren’t aware. Will you like to be
that guy??
Read this news piece on TOI 01 Dec 15 (World
AIDS day..What else?) about a village in Uttar Pradesh (Udaisarai in Fatehpur)
where the womenfolk are not sleeping with their husbands who are working in
Mumbai after they return incase they don’t take the HIV test. Sensible
considering the village was plagued with HIV related deaths recently. Time to
rethink about KNOWAIDSTONOAIDS.
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