POLICE ASSOCIATION OF NOVA SCOTIA 49 SUSPECT GIVES UP SAMPLE FOR A BURGER Isobel Anderson would’ve gladly emptied her bank account to pay for the blood sample she wanted but, in the end, all it took was a hamburger. In many ways, however, even that was too high a price to pay for something she believes should be an inherent right to people who have been injured by a drug junky’s needle. After surviving the civil wars of her native Zimbabwe and taking up life in Canada, she has often reflected on the fact that she was just “lucky to be alive.” And despite the day-to-day dangers she faces as a police officer in Ottawa, Anderson said those challenges paled in comparison to the emotional devastation she felt after receiving a needle-prick injury while arresting a robbery suspect. “All of a sudden my life’s in the balance again,” she said, following an address to participants of the Atlantic Women in Law Enforcement Conference. What intensified the needle injury, she said, was realizing there was no way to force the individual to provide a blood sample to determine if they were carrying a virus. “I’m just fortunate that he was hungry,” she said. “He said if we buy him a BigMac from McDonald’s, he would give us a test.” That experience prompted a personal mission that has resulted in Ontario being the first province in Canada to adopt legislation that through a judge’s order can force an individual to produce a blood sample after someone has been injured by a needle found on their person. Anderson’s message on Thursday, however, was that such a law should be the same for all emergency workers across the country. Truro Police Const. Shari Roberts wholeheartedly agrees. In July 2002, Roberts was also stuck by a needle while arresting a local drug user. Because none of the suspect’s blood was evident in the syringe, however, and because the injury did not produce anymore than a speck of her own blood, Roberts initially tried to shrug off the situation. But the more she thought about it throughout the rest of her shift, the more alarmed she became. It was about 13 hours later before her companion convinced her to go to the hospital and by the time that ordeal was through, Roberts said she began to get angry about the entire situation and the way it was handled. “We had no policy, we didn’t know what to do and nobody did anything.” Although the suspect in her case could not be forced to provide a blood sample, Roberts said her request to ask the woman to voluntarily provide a test also went unheeded until she returned to work about a week later and contacted the woman herself. She complied and tested positive for Hepatitis C. Roberts also tested positive for the potentially fatal virus and spent months on an emotional roller coaster ride until eventually learning that her immune system had protected her from contracting it (although she must still undergo annual tests for the rest of her life). Now, Roberts and Anderson each believe legislation is required to protect front-line emergency workers from the worry and wonder that comes after being stuck by a needle. CONTAINMENT RESPONSE TEAM 2004 Made up of members from the New Glasgow, Stellarton and Trenton Police Services
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