Hep B Carrier

[Xether]

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Hi everyone,

I'll be applying to med school this cycle and I am a chronic hep b carrier (due to my mother).
Will this disqualify me from becoming a doctor? 🙁 I've heard of stories where people have had retracted offers and it's frowned upon.
I could possibly get the shot and everything (though it won't work) just for my immunization record.

 

[WheezyBaby]

No

 

[Ismet]

No +1

 

[aalamruad]

Hi everyone,

I'll be applying to med school this cycle and I am a chronic hep b carrier (due to my mother).
Will this disqualify me from becoming a doctor? 🙁 I've heard of stories where people have had retracted offers and it's frowned upon.
I could possibly get the shot and everything (though it won't work) just for my immunization record.

Really? Where'd you hear that? Doesn't sound legal

 

[bannie22]

Is it really illegal? I have heard of physicians with transmittable diseases being de-licensed... perhaps I have heard incorrectly...

 

[aalamruad]

Is it really illegal? I have heard of physicians with transmittable diseases being de-licensed... perhaps I have heard incorrectly...

 

[precisiongraphic]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but the reason that schools make you get a titre and/or a immunization injection is to keep you from getting HepB while in med school. If you already have it, the vaccine is useless.

I also believe it would be an ADA violation for you to be discriminated against (in the US) just as it wold be illegal to discriminate against someone with HIV.

Hi everyone,

I'll be applying to med school this cycle and I am a chronic hep b carrier (due to my mother).
Will this disqualify me from becoming a doctor? 🙁 I've heard of stories where people have had retracted offers and it's frowned upon.
I could possibly get the shot and everything (though it won't work) just for my immunization record.

 

[Knicks17]

I know a doctor that survived cancer during undergrad, it didn't hurt his cycle but only made him stronger 🙂

 

[blackroses]

I know a doctor that survived cancer during undergrad, it didn't hurt his cycle but only made him stronger 🙂

Eh, cancer isn't exactly comparable to a communicable disease in this regard....

That said, the same rules that apply to physicians with HIV will apply to physicians with Hep B, I imagine.

 

[docE15]

There is a section in the AAMC vaccinations form for those who have chronic active hepatitis B. I think you just need to provide documentation of viral load and surface antigen. You could google the form for specifics.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[Gastrapathy]

The HBV positive physician or student is a well-worn scenario. It's not so simple as being a discrimination issue. HBV transmission is a big deal and there are (low) risks of transmission with performance of certain surgical procedures. This is the latest CDC guidance on the subject.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr6103.pdf

While it shouldn't impact acceptance, it can affect your ability to practice, particularly if you are unwilling to take medication and want to be a surgeon.

Also, "carrier" is not a real HBV category. Usually people mean immune tolerant or inactive chronic when they say "carrier" and those categories are very different for transmission risk. The AASLD guideline is below. Go see a hepatologist. They will discuss options with you.
https://www.aasld.org/sites/default/files/guideline_documents/hep28156.pdf

Just FYI, you are a classic GI Boards question (except it's always a dental student because all dentists perform "exposure-prone procedures and most physicians do not).

Overall, take heart. This won't end your career before it starts.

 

[pstrick]

You can make a ton of money by selling your plasma.