There have been a number of published reports this year about staff several VA hospitals using unsterilized equipment and exposing their patients to infectious diseases.

To hear of such negligent acts coming from a VA hospital is totally unconscionable and should never be tolerated. In the past couple of years, we have heard about malicious health care personnel who ― for some reason or another ― have purposely infected patients or administered medication inappropriately, but a case where a health care facility and/or health care personnel fails to have good infection control, the potential to harm hundreds of innocent victims is overwhelming.

If nothing else, what medical history has taught us, is that hospitals infections are on the rise. For the last five years, massive education coming from federal health agencies have mandated that doctors, nurses, and technical personnel that work in a hospital understand and follow good infection control policies so that patients will not be exposed to dangerous diseases.

Many hospitals are doing a good job, but clearly, from what we can learn of these recent reports – a lot of work needs to be done.

It is particularly upsetting to me because VA hospitals should represent the best health care available – especially because their purpose is to provide services to our men and women in uniform who have sacrificed so much.

So let us hope that this is a wake-up call to the Obama administration to beef up the quality and the prestige of our federally-funded health services.

Now, let me give you some tips on how you can protect yourself from becoming a victim of poor infection control in the hospital:

1. Demand that all health care personnel wash their hands in front of you before they render any physical service;
2. Demand that all health care personnel wear NEW gloves before drawing any blood;
3. Make sure your health care provider opens new needles from new packaging in your presence;
4. If any injectable medication is to be administered, it must come from a new bottle; 
5. If you do not feel comfortable in your current setting, ask to speak to the infection control officer at your health facility. It is your right. 

Like I always say: It’s my hope that some day all health care facilities will provide the best care available, but it seems that in the meantime, we all need to be on the alert.

Dr. Fulbright,
Are there any health risks or hazards associated the oral consumption of semen? Thank you so much and I hope that you have a wonderful day.
Sincerely,
—Zach

Dear Zach,
This is often a matter of debate for lovers, especially since oral sex has been misrepresented as a low risk form of sex. Anytime semen is deposited into the mouth, there is a risk of getting a sexually transmitted infection. Possible infections include gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, herpes, hepatitis B, human papilloma virus (HPV), and CMV. To reduce the risk of infection, a latex condom should be worn over the penis.

Do you have a question about sex? If so, foxnewshealth.com wants to hear from you! E-mail your questions to drmanny@foxnews.com

Dr. Yvonne Kristín Fulbright is a sex educator, relationship expert, columnist and founder of Sexuality Source Inc. She is the author of several books including, “Touch Me There! A Hands-On Guide to Your Orgasmic Hot Spots.”

Dear Yvonne,
What are the dangers of oral sex without using a condom?
—Sissie

Dear Sissie,
As discussed in my first book, The Hot Guide to Safer Sex, unprotected oral sex is a high-risk sexual behavior. You can get sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, or HIV, from performing oral sex on a man or woman. Another thing to keep in mind is that when someone has the common cold sore (a.k.a. oral herpes — HSV-1) and goes down on you, you could contract genital herpes, or HSV-2.

To protect yourself, use a dental dam, which is a rectangular latex barrier that is placed over the vulva (or anus) during cunnilingus (oral sex on a female), or a non-lubricated, non-spermicidal condom during fellatio (oral sex on a male). You can also use a sheet of non-microwavable Saran Wrap if a dental dam is not available, or cut a condom lengthwise for a square.

Dr. Yvonne Kristín Fulbright is a sex educator, relationship expert, columnist and founder of Sexuality Source Inc. She is the author of several books including, “Touch Me There! A Hands-On Guide to Your Orgasmic Hot Spots.”

Jeremiah Johnson, 25, of Colorado, has filed a complaint with the American Civil Liberties Union after he was terminated from the Peace Corps because of his HIV-positive status, reports the Washington Post.

“The Peace Corps does not have a policy of automatically excluding people with HIV,” wrote Amanda H. Beck, the agency’s press director. “The Peace Corps conducts individualized medical examinations of volunteers and applicants who are HIV-positive.”

The letter continues by pointing out that the State Department, in February, had lifted a ban that prevented HIV-positive individuals from becoming Foreign Service officers.

Prior to the change, all HIV-positive applicants were automatically excluded from performing Foreign Service. However, it permitted people who were already employed and became infected with the virus after being hired to remain employed.

What do you think?