Tattooing popularity has created a firestorm of equipment sales. Unfortunately there are probably websites advertising that will put equipment in untrained hands with a quick order. (We've tried to eliminate them but there is a tech problem with Google/Yahoo, sigh.)
Unscrupulous suppliers, auctions, private individuals are willing to sell to anyone and everyone...just 'show me da money'. Unfortunately one of our local shopping centers has joined them in allowinga vendor to openly sell tattoo and piercing equipment. No, it's not against the law. Kinda strange, isn't it? I find it amazing that I can't walk into a beauty supply store and buyhair dye for home use but people can buy equipment to invade human tissue in a home setting.
Through our conversation I learnedthe retail site general manager talked with our Dept of Health to verify the legality prior to renting to this vendor. I did challenge him, though, is it ethical? Does the rent paid by this vendor justify the endangerment to the public health?
What's the big deal?Tobe able towalkto a shopping center and pick up a tattoo machine or a piercing needle by anyone regardless of training orageputs tools in the hands of untrained, unlicensed people to open skin and thus deal with potentially deadly blood borne pathogens such as Hep C, Hep B, HIV, TB, MRSA, etc.
MRSA is nothing to take lightlyDoing this in a home setting exposes not only the 'client' and the 'tattooer' but also all those who live or visit the home. Hep B/C can live on a surface for up to a WEEK. Yeah, the same surface that the kids eat breakfast on or where Mom folds the laundry.
Hawaii has one of the highest rates of Hepatitis in the US. It's an insiduous killer. I've written many times of the problems with Hepatitis and home tattooing. For an official look check out:
www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/stateprofiles/Hawaii/2007_Hawaii_Profile_FINAL.pdf and
www.hepatitis.about.com/od/lifestyle/a/tattoos.htm Further problems arise as minors take this route to circumvent state regulations over legal shops. Parents, I've written about your legal rights regarding body modifications preformed on minors without parental consent. The consequences to the perpetrator and possibly to the supplier in making a permanent change to a minor can be numerous and severe.
Our Health Department struggles with the numbers of unlicensed people tattooing in their homes and garages. In fact our studio just received a letter from the DOH reconfirming that anyone tattooing without a license faces up to a $5000 fine. With this new twist to equipment availability their job just got worse.
Granted, it may not be illegal. But ethical? Endangering the public? You tell me.
