For people with hepatitis C, disclosure to family, friends, employers and healthcare providers is a personal choice. They may choose not to tell anyone, but they may benefit from the support of others if they do.
Benefits of Disclosure
Support
People living with Hep C often need help to deal with the stigma, health complications and decisions about how to manage the infection. By disclosing, people with Hep C can find the support they need. Accessing safe and trusted support, from a counsellor or support group, can be the first step before disclosing to friends and family.
Health
When doctors or other healthcare providers know that a patient has Hep C they are in a better place to care for the person. They can make decisions about medicine and treatment that will help reduce further damage to the liver. Clients and patients should know that healthcare providers are bound by confidentiality policies so their Hep C status will be kept private.
Safety
People may want to tell their family, sexual partners or people they use drugs with. Giving these people the heads up and providing information on how to stay safe will keep them healthy and help prevent the spread of the virus. Healthcare providers will also appreciate the information so they can pay extra attention to universal precautions around handling blood.
Cautions with Disclosure
Discrimination
Disclosing Hep C status can put a person in a vulnerable position. Sometimes people will react negatively, either out of malice or ignorance, especially if they do not understand the disease. Providing information on Hep C can help in some of these cases. Also, opening up only to people who are trusted and close will make disclosure easier. Having Hep C often changes people’s lives. They may lose some friends, but they may also gain new ones.
How to Disclose
Once they’ve decided to disclose their status, people with Hep C should choose a time that feels right to them. Disclosure can be nerve-wracking and may take some energy and determination to get through. This is not a confession—it’s just acknowledging the situation at hand. The person hearing the news may need time to react or may want information on Hep C to help them understand.
People living with Hep C often need help to deal with the stigma, health complications and decisions about how to manage the infection.
Some people plan the conversation about disclosure, while others disclose in the heat of the moment. Each person makes his or her own decisions around this and can consider aspects such as:
- Where will the conversation take place—in private or in public?
- Will it be in person, over the phone or in writing?
- How will it be worded? Use phrases such as:
- “I have something I’d like to tell you…”
- “I feel that our relationship is strong. I feel I can tell you that …”
- “Remember how I went to the doctor’s office/clinic a few weeks ago?”
- Can the other person who has just received the information talk to people who also know? Do they need to keep it secret?
Back to top
