AIM Healthcare under scrutiny for handling of HIV case

The Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation, a private San Fernando Valley clinic that caters to the porn industry, has come under spotlight for the handling of the HIV positive case of an adult film performer. The officials say that the foundation have been uncooperative with the details of the infected person and that they have yet to inform the Los Angeles County health officials about the case.

In a press release by the clinic officials, they have defended their stance citing privacy laws. They say that they are waiting for the obligatory Western Blot test report before reporting to the county health officials. They have accused of private entities of indulging in self promotion based on ignorance and fear mongering. The clinic officials said that the industry was behaving cautiously and responsibly by placing a ban on filming any person who has come in sexual contact with the current patient. Meanwhile, the clinic is waiting for tests which will reveal the nature of exposure- whether it is on camera activity or personal conduct.

The adult entertainment industry is divided on the issue. They question the right to keep the identity of the infected person a secret. They said that especially in a field like theirs they had a right to know. There have been unconfirmed reports that the ‘Patient Zero’ is a man who has worked both in straight and gay porn. The rules that run the industry differ in gay and straight porn filming. In gay porn although condoms are mandatory, HIV tests are not while HIV tests are mandatory in straight porn. Since some of the actors cross over, the industry feels that the filming unit should issue a rapid HIV test prior to filming henceforth.

The industry has come to a virtual standstill because of rampant fear. This voluntary disruption of work comes at a time the industry has already been hard hit by the recession and subsequent release of free porn websites and amateur pornography.