http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=579&u=/nm/en_nm/people_anderson_dc LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Former "Baywatch" beauty Pamela Anderson said on Wednesday she has contracted the potentially fatal liver disease Hepatitis C by sharing a tattoo needle with ex-husband Tommy Lee. Pam Anderson and Hurley Anderson, 34, whose barbed-wire tattoo rings her left arm, said in a statement she has been undergoing outpatient treatment for the disease at the University of California, Los Angles Medical Center. "I contracted Hepatitis C while sharing a tattoo needle with my ex-husband Tommy Lee," she said. "Tommy has the disease and never disclosed it to me during our marriage," said Anderson, who is embroiled in a child custody battle with Lee, the former drummer for the hard-rock band Motley Crue. Neither Lee, 39, nor his publicist was immediately available for comment. The former Playboy Playmate, who also stars in the syndicated TV series "V.I.P.," is seeking full custody of her two children with Lee, whom she divorced in 1998 following his arrest for hitting her. Lee pleaded no contest to a felony charge of spousal abuse for striking Anderson in the driveway of their Malibu home in February of that year and was sentenced to six months in jail and three years' probation. In April 1999, the Canadian-born Anderson said they were attempting a reconciliation, but the couple parted ways again. Most recently, Anderson has been dating recording star Kid Rock. Hepatitis C is a virus that results in inflammation, then scarring of the liver, a condition known as cirrhosis. In 20 percent of cases, the virus ultimately leads to liver failure and death, said Dr. Samuel Daniel, a leading expert on the disease at North General Hospital in Manhattan. He said Hepatitis C, the most serious form of Hepatitis, is contracted primarily through the sharing of contaminated intravenous needles. He said if Anderson shared tattoo needles with someone who was infected, she was "highly likely" to contract the virus. The disease kills about 8,000 people annually in the United States, and about 3.9 million Americans are believed to be infected with the virus, which often lies dormant for up to 10 years. Many people do not realize they have been infected until the virus is identified in a blood test. "This is a silent epidemic," he said. "We believe by 2010, we may have up to 30,000 to 39,000 people a year die of this disease." He said up to 46 percent of Hepatitis patients can be successfully treated with recent advances in medication administered for the disease.
didn't she once say something along the lines of "My goal is to sleep with someone from every country"? or is that simply wishful thinking? I'm from Laos i swear
Is it typical to share a tatoo needle? I assumed that it was like any other needle and you do not do share
No, it is not at all typical to share tattoo needles. Tattoo parlors in Texas (and I assume the rest of the US as well) are regulated by the state. All needles used must be sealed in their individual packaging and used only once and then discarded. All other equipment is sterilized between uses. Tattoos are a form of body adornment that date back thousands of years. There is nothing stupid about getting a tattoo when you go to a reputable establishment and all safety procedures are followed. I think it's VERY strange that a wealthy movie star would find it necessary or desirable to share a tattoo needle with Tommy Lee. I think it is far more likely she and Tommy shared needles for OTHER purposes, but Anderson realized a judge would frown upon that admission during a custody battle.
Tommy Lee was her husband. He is the father of her kids. It's not like they ran into each other one day and started sharing needles. By the way...I don't believe Tommy shoots up anymore...that was the 80s.
Freak: I know they were married. I was just pointing out the fact that no one in their right mind would share ANY type of needle with Tommy Lee given his rather sordid past. And that any tattoo place they went to would have used individual needles on them. Let's face it, neither of them are exactly models of retraint and decorum. It seemed to me that sharing a drug needle was a more logical conclusion than sharing a tattoo needle. But, then again, this is Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson, so logic may not work here.
Mrs JB, Now that is something I had not really considered, and it certainly is possible, in fact, highly likely. I feel enlightened now....thanks. DaDakota
