Rep. Lee's Battle Against HIV Criminalization: You Will See Someone You Know


The Founder

The Founder

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http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/HIV_andthe_Law_1667_22669.shtml

Punitive laws that abuse human rights are costing lives, wasting money and undermining the progress made against HIV according to HIV and the Law: Risks, Rights and Health, a report released ahead of the XIX International AIDS Conference by the Global Commission on HIV and the Law, an independent body of experts convened by the United Nations Development Programme.

The commission has found that punitive laws—legislation that criminalizes people living with HIV—are holding back what could be a successful response to the epidemic. These laws unwittingly increase HIV transmission, hurt already at-risk populations, disproportionately target women and youth and hinder access to HIV treatment.

Laws that criminalize either the non-disclosure of HIV or the transmission of HIV increase stigma and ultimately discourage people from getting tested because they fear prosecution, the commission suggests. Currently, more than 60 countries (including 37 states in the United States) criminalize HIV transmission, and high-income countries lead the world in the actual prosecution of these laws. To date, more than 600 people have been convicted of these “crimes.”
 



No one should be discriminated against for having HIV.

However, intentionally giving someone HIV or knowingly exposing someone to the possibility of getting HIV without their knowledge should be a crime.

If that offends anyone or hurts people's feelings, I'm sorry, but that's the way I feel.
 
No one's feelings are hurt. The primary concern is that people are nervous about getting tested. The other issue when you utilize the criminalization statute as a form of revenge after a breakup. Also a number of the laws do not follow the scientific proof of exposure. The other issue is a number of states had to enact a prevention measure to receive funding from the government so the best way was to create criminalization statutes.

This country has to find better ways. Also, is there a law against hepC being transmitted?
 
This is personal for you and I understand that.

However, people being afraid of getting tested or girlfriends potentially using the courts as a weapon is no justification for not punishing people who intentionally expose or give people a life threatening illness. I understand that it is not as deadly now as it used to be, but that doesn't change the seriousness of this issue.

I'll admit that I'm not familiar with hepatitis-C. Infection rates or mortality rates. However, if a person is using a disease as a weapon against other people's lives, then intentionally infecting someone with hepatitis-C, or any other disease, should be criminalized too.
 
SUJagFan said:
This is personal for you and I understand that.

However, people being afraid of getting tested or girlfriends potentially using the courts as a weapon is no justification for not punishing people who intentionally expose or give people a life threatening illness. I understand that it is not as deadly now as it used to be, but that doesn't change the seriousness of this issue.

I'll admit that I'm not familiar with hepatitis-C. Infection rates or mortality rates. However, if a person is using a disease as a weapon against other people's lives, then intentionally infecting someone with hepatitis-C, or any other disease, should be criminalized too.
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Well it is personal but I have met so many people who are infected who are nervous about exposure. Now I do believe if you seek out to purposely infect someone that some form of punishment should occur. Yet, there are no laws to reflect this. You have it in the various forms of rape (i.e.sexual assault etc...), murder( i.e. murder one or two, manslaughter), drug crimes, and robbery. But with this law it is an across the board law.
 
The Founder said:
No one's feelings are hurt. The primary concern is that people are nervous about getting tested. The other issue when you utilize the criminalization statute as a form of revenge after a breakup. Also a number of the laws do not follow the scientific proof of exposure. The other issue is a number of states had to enact a prevention measure to receive funding from the government so the best way was to create criminalization statutes.

This country has to find better ways. Also, is there a law against hepC being transmitted?
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People are nervous about getting tested b/c they know they have (possibly) been living foul and there's a chance, rather great or small...that they might test positive for a fugged up disease. Most regular folks don't even realize there are criminal laws associated with the transmission of the disease or if the state they currently live in has such laws on the books.
 
Most regular folks don't care about HIV or any other disease until it affects them.


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The Founder said:
Most regular folks don't care about HIV or any other disease until it affects them.


NUPE is on the move - Using Tapatalk
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That's true for everyone; regular and non-regular folks.

maybe I shouldn't have used the word "regular" and just said "Most folks" b/c I really can't even give you an example of a "regular person". :emlaugh:
 
Why just make it a crime for all STD's. If you willing infect your partner with a "lesser" disease, then you are more likely to do the same with HIV!
 
southsuburbs said:
That's true for everyone; regular and non-regular folks.

maybe I shouldn't have used the word "regular" and just said "Most folks" b/c I really can't even give you an example of a "regular person". :emlaugh:
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I feel you. We are just searching for the best way to decrease the infection rate and being the realist that I am, nothing is working. Damn near like the war on drugs.
 
Tpop33 said:
Why just make it a crime for all STD's. If you willing infect your partner with a "lesser" disease, then you are more likely to do the same with HIV!
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Top33 that point was made last week and some lawmakers thought it was funny. One even stated that he had "VD" and the HIV speaker asked which one...and the lawmaker said they all the same.:shame:
 
SUJagFan said:
No one should be discriminated against for having HIV.

However, intentionally giving someone HIV or knowingly exposing someone to the possibility of getting HIV without their knowledge should be a crime.

If that offends anyone or hurts people's feelings, I'm sorry, but that's the way I feel.
Click to expand...



SUJagFan, actually it is considered a crime. And people who are HIV-positive who intentionally transmit HIV on to others can be charged with murder, attempted murder, assault, manslaughter, or sometimes even criminally transmission of HIV. You'd be surprised (or maybe not) at how many of the states in the US have prosecuted HIV infected persons who intentionally infected others.

I also agree that HIV-positive infected people who intentionally and purposely infect others (regardless of how transmitted) should be criminally charged.
 
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