Prevention Matters

Los Angeles County officials have rejected requests that they require performers in pornographic films to use condoms. HIV/AIDS activists had demanded such a requirement, to be enforced by county health officials.

"It is very, very difficult to implement. There are roughly 200 production companies with about . . . 1,200 actors," said Dr. Jonathan Fielding, the county's public health chief. "All you need is a room and a camera and a bed, basically, to do this kind of shoot, and we have no ability to police this."