It is entirely up to you who you decide to tell. Obviously, when you first receive your diagnosis, only you, the person delivering the result and any other health care professionals involved with your hepatitis C test will know your status. Your specialist and/or GP should not reveal your status to anyone as they are bound by a Code of Ethics and laws surrounding confidentiality. The only people they can notify about your status without your permission are other health care workers who are involved in some way, shape or form with your monitoring.
It can be tricky working out who to tell and there are a few factors to consider. At the end of the day it is for you to decide, but you may want help and support and you will need to tell people, in order to get that support. However, it is worth bearing in mind that as soon as you tell someone you have hepatitis C , that information is no longer in your control, so you may want to think about who you trust and feel comfortable with before you share that information with others. See telling people.
Is there anyone that must know?
It depends on your individual situation, but in general any contracts you have in which health is a significant issue are likely to require disclosure. Existing life assurance does not usually require disclosure but if you have any insurance that is renewed on an annual basis such as private medical insurance then you may need to tell the insurer. Remember that all information you provide to your insurer forms part of a legal agreement and if the information is inaccurate or fraudulent it may render the agreement invalid.
It would be wise to read all small print on current or new insurance agreements prior to either disclosing or entering into a contractual agreement. You may wish to contact the insurance company direct and ask some theoretical questions about disclosure without revealing your identity.
If you have health insurance as part of your employment you will need to find out if you have to go through your employer or can go straight to the insurer.
You are not legally obliged to, but it might be an idea to tell people who may come into contact with your blood through their work so that they can take adequate precautions, for example dentists.
You are not obliged to inform your employer. However, if you need to take time off work, then you will be required to provide sick certificates via your doctor. These do not necessarily have to state that you have hepatitis C: it could relate to the symptoms you are experiencing that prevent you from working e.g. fatigue, muscle aches, depression etc. See sick certificates and short-term sickness However, if your employer is not aware of your status and you later encounter problems at work or are unable to carry out your duties to the same standard as you were prior to your diagnosis then you will not have any legal recourse under the Disability Discriminations Act 1995. If you notify your employer, then you will most likely be covered. See the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
