YNOT – Adult Production Health & Safety Services representatives met with Los Angeles County Public Health officials Monday, ending a tense couple of weeks during which the department declined to communicate directly with the adult entertainment industry about a possible syphilis outbreak. According to APHSS representatives, county health officials attempted to overstep their authority while at the same time stymieing adult industry attempts to protect the health and welfare of performers.
During the meeting, Dr. Peter Kerndt, director of sexually transmitted infection programs for the county, confirmed that nine as-yet-unidentified adult performers have tested positive for syphilis, according to Diane Duke, executive director of APHSS parent organization Free Speech Coalition. In accordance with federal and state law, Kerndt did not reveal performer identities or other patient information.
Duke said Kerndt also confirmed that the point of origin for the syphilis outbreak has not been identified and indicated some of the positive tests pre-dated the first case of which the industry is generally aware. In mid-August, APHSS began a voluntary, free syphilis-testing program for all adult industry performers, based on confirmation of a rumor that had been circulating for more than a week. The rumor claimed that a “major male talent” continued to work in sexually explicit scenes even after testing positive for syphilis.
On Aug. 22, 18-year industry veteran Mr. Marcus went public in an effort to put the rumors to rest. He said he was the performer hinted at in the rumors and he did test positive for syphilis in July, but he was treated for the disease and pronounced cured by his personal physician before he returned to work.
On Tuesday, Duke said Mr. Marcus presumably is one of the nine syphilis cases reported to the LACPH. Although another adult performer self-reported an infection to APHSS, he lives, works and tested positive in another state. That, according to Duke, means at least 10 cases of syphilis have been reported among performers.
“This latest development only confirms the need for APHSS.org as a single, comprehensive source of performer data for adult production,” she said. “Had the first performer who tested positive for syphilis been reported by their healthcare provider to APHSS in a timely manner, partner notification and positive performer separation would have occurred quickly enough to reduce the likelihood of transmission and perhaps the need for a moratorium.”
Duke also said working with LACPH probably will remain difficult, at best.
“At one point during yesterday’s meeting, the APHSS doctor was asked by Dr. Kerndt to hand over patient records — including production records — for the two performers who tested positive for syphilis, as well as patient records for all performers that have tested and received [prophylactic] treatment for syphilis through APHSS since the production moratorium was called,” she said.
Both Duke and the APHSS doctor refused to comply with the request, citing respect for patient privacy.
“In line with APHSS protocols, as well as state and local regulations, all testing facilities affiliated with APHSS have and will report any positive STI test results to the county health department,” Duke said, stressing that simply testing for a disease or participating in the voluntary preventative inoculation program will not expose anyone to pursuit by public health officials.
“Performer privacy is a top priority for APHSS,” Duke said. “We will cooperate as much as possible with county health officials, but only with the permission of individuals [who have tested positive], if they would like to come forward. If those individuals choose to release their information to the county, either through their medical providers or direct communication, that is their decision.
“APHSS providers are expected to, and do, fulfill all reporting requirements to the county,” Duke added. We hope to facilitate a cooperative working environment with county health officials, but will not compromise performer patient privacy.”
For more information about APHSS and frequent updates on the status of the syphilis outbreak, visit APHSS.org.
