Hiding HIV status is criminal

Editor, I read with shock an article in yesterday’s issue of The New Times titled “Infected partners hiding their HIV status”. The Director of Project San Francisco Dr. Etienne Karita revealed that amongst discordant couples in the country, 22 percent infect their partners with HIV annually. He tried to explain these statistics by saying that the HIV transmission from one partner to another was due to fear of disclosure by the infected partner even after knowing their status.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Editor,

I read with shock an article in yesterday’s issue of The New Times titled "Infected partners hiding their HIV status”. The Director of Project San Francisco Dr. Etienne Karita revealed that amongst discordant couples in the country, 22 percent infect their partners with HIV annually.

He tried to explain these statistics by saying that the HIV transmission from one partner to another was due to fear of disclosure by the infected partner even after knowing their status.

However, I’m of the opinion that anyone who doesn’t reveal their HIV status to their partner is guilty of a crime of voluntary manslaughter.

Anyone who does something as selfish as this should get a long jail term. They have no right to infect someone else a deadly disease. What does the law say about something like that? I’m curious.

Linda Mutesi
Kimironko