Certs (MediCentre)

[golostruda]

On a perhaps unrelated note, Monday's Daily Mirror had a two page article where one of their journalists visited every Medi Centre in London and pretended she had a sore neck. Despite there being nothing wrong with her, every one of them wrote her out a sick note for time of work (at least a day, in many cases a week). Inference of the article is that Medi Centre will sign something off quicker than they should - they make their money by charging ?59 for a 10-minute consultation. I'm sure this doesn't apply to HIV certidiaction, but on the other hand I didn't realise railway station GP surgeries (which is all a Medi Centre is) had the facilities to conduct such tests in the first place.

[marcusallen]

OK,
Just mail me personally with the details.

If there is no problem why would you withould?
Everyone and his uncle is jumpimg on the bandwagon.

I have lived my adult life on one main principal, Namely:

"Don't tell me, Show me."


Put up or shut up and that applies to EVERY critic/Observer/poster/"expert"?

[alec]

Thanks.

[Dan Dares]

That is assuming the female model was aware, a) that there were recognised places to go or b) where they were? Not knowing who the girl was it is hard to say if she is likely to have known but there is no source of advice in this area really that I am aware of...get a certificate is generally the only statement given. That said, the two places mentioned by Scott are the most commonly used.

[Carl Pulley]

Hi Scott,
Yes you done right thing there mate,Funny enough i hoping Jason Maskell(JFT) reading this thread as i couldn't make the 6th May talk,i emailed him my personnal opinions and funny enough one of them was actually about models using handwritten hiv certs being passed by medical staff.(I must admit i did say i heard rumours knocking about on this subject,and which models but like the Mods alec said its unfair to start naming people) and i brought it up to Jason to say no one to use this sort of Certs for adult work,Jason Agreed but he admitted he never heard models using this format,I think there's your Proof.
Basically all Certs should be Computer letter headed anyway.

Carl (Kriss Kross)

[JackHorny]

1 - "Did I do right"? What a ridiculous question! It all boils down to common sense AND doing what you're comfortable with. If you're not happy, don't do it - have the courage of your convictions. Justify these decisions FOR YOURSELF and with common sense uppermost in your mind and that is ALL that matters.

2 - A hand-written cert, IN MY OPINION, is no less valid than a computer generated one... Indigo have always told me that if anybody questions the validity of my cert, the producer/performer with concerns can contact the clinic and speak to the health adviser personally...

And that would seem like the common sense thing to do when confronted with a questionable cert. I personally wouldn't dismiss it just because it was handwritten. There could be any number of explanations - computer sustem was down at the time or it might be a quickly obtained replacement for a lost cert... I would always suggest that the first port of call for a questionable cert is the clinic it was supposedly issued at - there should be a name and reference number with which to follow it up. If it checks out with the clinic and the cert tallies with the ID the model has - No problems... if it doesn't check out with the clinic and it doesn't marry up with the ID - don't do it.

BUT - if at anytime you're not happy, the simple answer is DON'T DO IT - it's your life.

[scott2hot]

Ok Jack - Keep your pants on fella!! Think I got all the info I need. Cheers anyway...

[Dan Dares]

It does highlight though as issue that probably won't change with the new BAIHA certificates, not everyone is going to insist on them, especially with the costs involved and not everyone is going to have the guts to turn down work when they are there, especially if they have travelled for 3 hours to the shoot.

Yes there could well be very legitimate reasons for having a hand written test, unfortunately there could also be some far more sinister reasons Jack and ringing the clinic on the day of the shoot is not always practical (or at weekends not always possible). Scott had already made his own mind up but there is no harm in finding out more detail from others who may know more is there? After all now he can make a more educated decision next time even if he does decide to make the same choice.

[sandie]

jack and peter are right - in my opinion. its not hard to fake a computer written cert. in actual fact if someone was gonna go to the extremes of faking a cert they would make it look as official as possible and type it at least - well i would think.

indigo hand write my ID no.s on my cert - whats saying i dont write that on when i get my friend who isnt HIV positive to do my test for me!!! get my drift.
and my birth certificate is hand written - very handy when ur 16 and trying to get into night clubs. an ink eraser and ur sorted.

u did what was right in your mind or u wouldnt be questioning yourself. so stop beating urself up.

medi centre as far as i know are very good. ive been there myself a few times as have friends.
dont quote me on this but u possibly could have called the clinic in question and with the verbal consent over the phone of the girl they could have stated they tested her - they may not have been able to say she was negative (or positive) but they may have been able to clarify she was at the clinic on said day and was tested if she consented to them telling u that.
just a thought for future ref.

[Marie-Louise]

hi scott i get my hiv certs & my std certs from the medicentre it is not handwritten it is printed of on computer & signed by dr s raghoonanan she has always said to me she is happy for people to ring her about the certs &she is very helpful next time i see you i will show you there is an addy & a number you can call but you are right if in doubt dont do it see you soon
love&kisses Marie-Louisexxx
www.melonsxxx.com
www.marie-louisie.co.uk
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/marie-louise