Connect with us

Health

Local news in brief

Whitman-Walker fights HIV lawsuit & more

Published

on

Whitman-Walker fights HIV lawsuit

Lawyers for the Whitman-Walker Clinic asked the D.C. Court of Appeals on June 10 to uphold a lower court’s decision dismissing a lawsuit charging the Clinic with falsely diagnosing a client as HIV positive in 2000.

In earlier rulings, a D.C. Superior Court judge and a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals held that a mix-up by a Clinic intake worker and a volunteer doctor led to the misdiagnosis of Terry Hedgepeth.

However, the Superior Court judge dismissed Hedgepeth’s lawsuit charging negligent infliction of emotional distress and the appeals court panel upheld that decision on grounds that D.C. law prevents an award of monetary damages in such cases if no physical injuries are involved.

“The Superior Court granted summary judgment against appellant and dismissed his complaint, concluding that it was bound by our precedent requiring that a claimant be exposed to a ‘zone of physical danger’ in order to claim negligent infliction of emotional distress,” the appeals panel wrote in its October decision.

Hedgepeth’s lawyers appealed the ruling by the three-judge panel to the full Court of Appeals, and the court’s judges heard oral arguments on the case June 10. A decision is expected sometime in the next several months.

His lawyers have argued that the ban on damages for infliction of emotional distress without a physical injury or threat of physical injury is based on a faulty appeals court ruling and the court should reverse itself by overturning the earlier ruling.

The Clinic’s arguments seeking to uphold the lower court decisions could not be immediately determined. Whitman-Walker Executive Director Don Blanchon released a statement saying only that the Clinic “is committed to providing our patients with accurate and timely diagnosis and treatment.”

The statement adds, “Our health center team works each and every day to ensure that patients receive high quality, affirming care. We look forward to the resolution of this pending matter.”

In addition to Whitman-Walker, Dr. Mary Fanning, who served as a volunteer physician for the Clinic in 2000, is named as a defendant in the case.

The misdiagnosis occurred during the tenure of former Whitman-Walker Executive Director Cornelius Baker and under the Clinic’s then interim director of medical resources, Roxanne Cox-Iyamu, according Whitman-Walker spokesperson Chip Lewis.

Hedgepeth’s lawsuit says he did not learn that he was HIV negative until five years later, when he was tested again at another D.C. Clinic. It says that during the five years he believed he was HIV positive he became severely depressed, lost his job, and began to have suicidal thoughts. He was twice committed to psychiatric wards in area hospitals, the suit says, leading him to become a “heavy” user of illegal drugs.

Gay marriage opponents seek to overturn law

Same-sex marriage opponents have flooded D.C. neighborhoods with fliers promoting at least four City Council candidates who favor holding a ballot initiative seeking to overturn the city’s same-sex marriage equality law.

Records filed with the D.C. Office of Campaign Finance show that the anti-gay National Organization for Marriage has paid Ward 5 ANC Commissioner Robert King more than $60,000 to distribute the fliers.

The flier calls on city residents to vote for Leo Alexander for mayor in the September Democratic primary, noting that Alexander supports a ballot initiative to decide the marriage issue.

It also seeks support for at-large Council candidates Kelvin Robinson and Anthony Motley and promotes Ward 5 Council candidate Delano Hunter. Motley is running as an independent and is considered the major challenger to gay Council member David Catania (I-At Large).

Advertisement
FUND LGBTQ JOURNALISM
SIGN UP FOR E-BLAST

Health

UNAIDS to commemorate Zero Discrimination Day’s 10th anniversary

UN agency urges global action to protect human rights

Published

on

A UNAIDS anti-discrimination exhibit at Tocumen International Airport in Panama in 2018. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

As the world marks the 10th anniversary of Zero Discrimination Day; UNAIDS is sounding the alarm on the increasing threats to human rights, calling for renewed efforts to protect the rights of all individuals as a fundamental step towards ensuring health for everyone.

Established by UNAIDS a decade ago, Zero Discrimination Day aims to promote equality and fairness regardless of gender, age, sexuality, ethnicity or HIV status. The progress achieved over the past years is now in jeopardy, however, due to rising attacks on the rights of women, LGBTQ people and other marginalized communities.

UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima emphasized the critical link between protecting human rights and safeguarding public health. 

“The attacks on rights are a threat to freedom and democracy and are harmful to health,” she said in a press release. “Stigma and discrimination obstruct HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care and hold back progress towards ending AIDS by 2030. It is only by protecting everyone’s rights that we can protect everyone’s health.”

Despite challenges, there has been notable progress. 

At the onset of the AIDS pandemic more than 40 years ago, two-thirds of countries criminalized consensual same-sex sexual relations. They are now decriminalized in two-thirds of countries. An additional 38 countries around the world have pledged to end HIV-related stigma and discrimination, contributing to positive changes that include 50 million more girls attending school compared to 2015.

To sustain and enhance these advancements; UNAIDS urges global support for women’s rights movements, LGBTQ rights, racial justice, economic justice, climate justice and peace initiatives. By standing with communities advocating for their rights, the U.N. aims to reinforce the collective effort towards a more inclusive and equitable world.

Zero Discrimination Day is observed on March 1.

Events and activities that will take place around the world throughout the month will serve as reminders of the essential lesson and call to action: Protecting everyone’s health is synonymous with protecting everyone’s rights.

“Through upholding rights for all, we will be able to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and secure a safer, fairer, kinder and happier world — for everyone,” said Byanyima.

Continue Reading

Health

New CDC report finds transgender women at higher risk for HIV

More than 1,600 people in seven cities surveyed

Published

on

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta (Photo courtesy of the CDC)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a new study report this week that revealed that restricted by employment and housing discrimination and lack of access to needed gender-affirming healthcare for transgender women increasing the risk of contracting HIV. 

Researchers reviewed data from a 2019-2020 survey, the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance Among Transgender Women, which found that the demographics of HIV/AIDS have been disproportionally high, especially among Black and Latina trans women, who had experienced employment and housing discrimination coupled with lack of access to gender-affirming healthcare.

The Jan. 25 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report was based on data studies of more than 1,600 trans women in seven major urban locales. Participants from Atlanta, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle were chosen by referrals from people and community-based organizations who knew or were part of the local population of trans women.

The study’s researchers noted: “Employment discrimination occurs at the overlapping nexus of poverty, homelessness, incarceration, health insurance, disability, food insecurity and survival sex work. These issues are interconnected.”

The study stated that trans women’s inability to access quality healthcare, including gender-affirming treatment or access to PrEP, and can expose them to potential incarceration as many turn to “survival sex work” and violence, which increases the risk of contracting HIV. 

The study’s author’s pointed out: “When economically marginalized transgender women are refused employment, this refusal cyclically contributes to economic hardships. This analysis …demonstrates the importance of transgender women working and living with dignity and without fear of unfair treatment.”

Continue Reading

Health

A Whole New Perspective on Well-Being

The Mather’s team recognizes that everyone’s wellness journey is completely unique to their life experiences and influences.

Published

on

The Mather is incorporating biophilic design—a design approach to facilitate access to nature or things that replicate natural patterns.

It’s easy to spot the distinctive, elegant silhouette of The Mather, a Life Plan Community for those 62+ opening this spring in Tysons, Virginia. What is not apparent to the naked eye is The Mather’s unique wellness philosophy, which is literally built into the community. 

The Mather’s team recognizes that everyone’s wellness journey is completely unique to their life experiences and influences.

Nature is one of the important factors that contribute to well-being. So The Mather is incorporating biophilic design—a design approach to facilitate access to nature or things that replicate natural patterns. This can include interior spaces with sightlines to a garden, choosing natural wood and stone as interior materials, or incorporating fragrant flowers and plants indoors to spark memories and provide tactile opportunities such as gardening. 

Residents of The Mather will be able to select from plentiful amenities, programs, and other offerings to target their personal wellness goals and preferences.

“Providing biophilic design within interior settings connects residents to the natural world,” says Mary Leary, CEO and President of Mather, the organization behind The Mather. “Research shows that a connection to nature provides positive benefits to mental states and overall well-being. At The Mather, biophilic design is the intersection of buildings and programs with nature in an urban setting.”

“The Mather is attracting a diverse group of older adults,” says Mary. “As a result, we aim to incorporate wellness practices from around the world, including Wyda movement theory of the Celtic Druids, which helps people achieve harmony with nature and contentment through mindfulness.” This holistic regenerative approach is similar to Qi Gong and yoga, while born in a different part of the world. Mather Institute has a special focus on mindfulness to support older adults’ practice of present moment awareness, which can lead to increased overall well-being, compassion, and joy.

A very different example of a wellness offering at The Mather is the Gharieni Welnamis spa wave bed, which uses computer-controlled vibrational therapy and audio frequencies to train the brain to relax. “The bed increases mindfulness, concentration, and creativity—all of which support our mission of creating Ways to Age Well,SM” says Mary.

These and other personalized ways to wellness will ensure that residents of The Mather can choose from seemingly countless ways to focus on their well-being. In other words, the sky’s the limit!

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Advertisement

Sign Up for Weekly E-Blast

Follow Us @washblade

Advertisement

Popular