Way back in June of 2006 AVN Insider ran this piece written by Layla Jade. It was of course, summarily ignored but oh boy what an indictment
Heres the link if you wanna read it yourself as it appeared in AVN Insider
By No Means Jaded
Is the industry really safe?
My immediate answer to that question would have previously been yes, and I would have given it without a moment’s hesitation, but something that happened with a friend of mine recently has now changed how I would immediately answer that question.
A friend of mine came to L.A. to shoot — let’s call her “Susan” for the sake of anonymity.
It was her first time out here in the porn valley, and her first handful of professional b/g scenes.
She was dealing with an established L.A. agent, had a ton of work lined up, but unfortunately within three or four days of her being out here, she caught an STD on set and started exhibiting symptoms.
OK, so no big deal, she got a dose of the clap, so she goes to AIM healthcare and gets herself sorted out, right? Wrong.
It is what happened next which is my biggest cause for concern.
It just so happened that Susan was on a set when she realized something was wrong, and rather then being told to go to AIM and get herself checked out, she was given the name and the details of a non-industry doctor to visit.
She didn’t know any different, unlike the seasoned pros who she was with, so she took the advice of her peers and she went to see this doctor. A doctor who then proceeded to (without even testing her to see what the problem was) give her a bunch of antibiotics and send her back off on her merry way, to her next set in the porn industry!
As it was, “Susan” did not do any more shoots out here. Being upset by the experience and worried about her health, she went home early, but her story really made me think.
She was given that information as though going to that doctor was as standard and normal as going to AIM, which raises the question, how many other people performing in the industry today are adopting this strategy also instead of going to AIM? And furthermore, exactly how many STDs are being spread and what increase has this practice caused in the levels of STDs and problems in our industry?
This is a business where the performers are supposed to look out for each other, but where also we have AIM as our industry standard, designed specifically to keep us all safe. But if people out there are deliberately going against the standard of AIM and seeking outside treatment in order to keep their AIM tests clean, so they can continue working regardless, then what the hell is anyone goanna do? Obviously it jeopardizes everyone’s safety, but it also devalues the work of AIM.
We all know and understand that there is a chance that the person you are working with may have unknowingly picked up something since his or her last clean test; you hope for the best and get on with the job, but consider this as more of a cause for concern.
What about if the person you’re about to work with today has their clean test from AIM but since their last test has also exhibited the symptoms of an STD and deliberately GONE TO A NON-AIM DOCTOR, therefore leaving their current HIV and STD record untarnished in order to be able to do the shoot with you today?
Pretty unthinkable, huh? Or is it?
There is no major punch line in this column, I am not demanding or recommending that these doctors be hunted down or burned alive at the stake, or anything ridiculous like that. The purpose of this column is firstly to bring additional attention to this practice (although I understand this issue is not some revelation to the majority of you), but most importantly, to remind other performers to think twice if you are considering seeing an outside doctor or are already doing so in reference to an STD problem you may be having.
When it comes down to it, the only people that are going to ensure our sexual safety are ourselves — not the director, not the producer, nor anybody else.
It is our health we are protecting, and by becoming a performer you become responsible for a lot of other people’s health too. So keep it safe.
7 Responses
J.r. Wolfe liked this on Facebook.
Now let’s see how long before the usual suspects come out and attack Layla.
I showed up on a set, realized I had caught something while pissing before the scene. I told Shawn Ricks that I couldn’t do the scene. His exact words to me were, “Do it anyway, it’s the risk she takes!”
I didn’t do it anyway, but Shawn never hired me again either.
Someone should explain to Layla the difference between a sentence and a paragraph.
JImmyd, someone should explain that difference to the editors at AVN. LOL.
@Jilted: LOL. Yep. True that. 🙂
I can’t say I am against going to a non-APHSS doctor for treatment if it is cheaper and/or more expeditious but certainly don’t work until you are cleared and get a new test before working to be sure you are clean. Also make sure this doctor understands you are in the adult industry as a performer so he can give appropriate advice (unlike what Mr. Syphilis did not telling the doc he was talent in adult and therefore receiving the wrong advice). Receiving advice from a doctor that has experience with the adult industry and not a “preferred provider” of the producers would also be wise.