Knowingly Transmitting AIDS Essay Example For Students

Knowingly Transmitting AIDS Essay The Criminalization of Knowingly Transmitting AIDS Submitted by: Necroman May 28, 1992 Table of Contents Brief history of AIDS and the criminalization of knowingly transmitting it.. . . . . . . . . . .3 Interviews concerning the issue . . . . . . .4 Reasons for the criminalization of knowingly transmitting AIDS . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Reasons against the criminalization of knowingly transmitting AIDS. . . . . . . . . . 7 My position and conclusion. . . . . . . . .8 Brief History of AIDS and the Criminalization of Knowingly Transmitting It Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The virus was discoverd independently in France in 1983 and in the United States in 1984. In the United States, it was initially identified in 1981. In 1986, a second virus, now called HIV-2, was also discovered in Africa. HIV-2 also causes AIDS. AIDS is transmitted in three ways: From sexual contact without protection, from the mixing of ones blood with infected blood, and from an infected pregnant woman to her fetus. Infection can occur from blood transfusions of infected blood, or sharing dirty needles. (Needles already used, in this case, by a HIV positive person.) The criminalization of intentionally spreading AIDS has been a big issue recently, and still remains so. As of September, 1991, legislation criminalizing AIDS transmission has been passed in 24 states. Among these states are California, Idaho, Ohio, Missouri, Michigan, and South Carolina. Under these current laws, it is a crime to knowingly transmit the virus through sex, sharing needles, donating infected blood, organs, or skin tissue. The first person to go to court under these laws in Michigan was Jeffrey Hanlon. Hanlon was a gay man who infected another man from Michigan while he was in New York. The American Civil Liberties Union, who agreed to take the case, agrued that the AIDS disclosure law is unconstitutional. Privacy of those with AIDS is what they were worried about. Opponents argued that theyre those with AIDS killing people. Its like rape. The maximum sentence Hanlon could have recieved was four years in prison and a $2000 fine. In addition, under the current New York State law, which dates back well before June, 1987, the knowing transmission of a venerial disease is a felony. However, at that time, and currently, AIDS was not classified as a venerial disease. Interviews Concerning the Issue Most people believe that the willful transmission of AIDS to others it virtually murder. I have interviewed **name** and **name**. Both of them feel that intentionally passing AIDS on to another person is murder. The recipient of the virus will, in almost every case, die rather quickly of an AIDS related disease. **name** feels that if someone knowingly transmits AIDS to another person, its like committing murder. He or she should be punished to the full extent of the law. In addition to personal interviews, I have found the opinions of Governor Cuomo and former President Ronald Reagan. On June 1, 1987, Cuomo revealed that state lawmakers would consider making the transmission of AIDS a crime. He was quoted at the time as saying: If you know you have AIDS and you pass it on to someone who is not aware, that should be regarded as a very serious offense. Im not talking about sins and morality; Im talking about a sin against the community, a crime. We should look into that. However, nothing was proposed at the time. Former President Ronald Reagan called for routine AIDS testing of prisoners, marriage license applicants, immigrants, and possibly some hospital patients. His purpose was only to identify carriers of the disease; no comment concerning the criminalization of the transmission of AIDS was made. .u88d35bf5fd391b32fbcd60bd2a74288d , .u88d35bf5fd391b32fbcd60bd2a74288d .postImageUrl , .u88d35bf5fd391b32fbcd60bd2a74288d .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u88d35bf5fd391b32fbcd60bd2a74288d , .u88d35bf5fd391b32fbcd60bd2a74288d:hover , .u88d35bf5fd391b32fbcd60bd2a74288d:visited , .u88d35bf5fd391b32fbcd60bd2a74288d:active { border:0!important; } .u88d35bf5fd391b32fbcd60bd2a74288d .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u88d35bf5fd391b32fbcd60bd2a74288d { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u88d35bf5fd391b32fbcd60bd2a74288d:active , .u88d35bf5fd391b32fbcd60bd2a74288d:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u88d35bf5fd391b32fbcd60bd2a74288d .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u88d35bf5fd391b32fbcd60bd2a74288d .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u88d35bf5fd391b32fbcd60bd2a74288d .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u88d35bf5fd391b32fbcd60bd2a74288d .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u88d35bf5fd391b32fbcd60bd2a74288d:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u88d35bf5fd391b32fbcd60bd2a74288d .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u88d35bf5fd391b32fbcd60bd2a74288d .u88d35bf5fd391b32fbcd60bd2a74288d-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u88d35bf5fd391b32fbcd60bd2a74288d:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Tempest Is A Play About The Power And Dangers Essay Reasons for the Criminalization of Knowingly Transmitting AIDS There are not many reasons for the criminalization of knowingly transmitting AIDS. However, they are very convincing arguments. The first and one of the most convincing arguments is because it will help stop the propogation of the virus. Ideally, if people know that it is a crime to transmit the virus, then they will not. The only way that AIDS will remain an epidemic is if it is continually spread. This is because those with AIDS will in most cases die rather quickly of an AIDS related disease. If they do not spread it, then the number of people with