The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that people living with HIV do not need to disclose their status to partners before intercourse, provided they have a low viral load and a condom is used. The decision, issued early October, addresses two cases heard by the court in February 2012 regarding a 1998 ruling concluding that people living with HIV who fail to
their HIV status to sex partners can be charged with aggravated sexual assault. Prosecutors from the two provinces where the cases originated, Manitoba and Quebec, petitioned the court to rule that all HIV-positive people should be legally compelled to tell their sex partners, regardless of the risk reduction associated with condom use and effective HIV treatment. The court disagreed with the prosecution. To read more about the case go here.
Related articles
- HIV-positive people don’t have to tell sex partners – if levels low and condom worn – says Supreme Court of Canada (theprovince.com)
- Supreme Court readies ruling in landmark HIV cases (o.canada.com)
- Top court clarifies HIV disclosure ruling (cbc.ca)
- Canada eases HIV disclosure law (bbc.co.uk)
- Canada’s Top Court Issues HIV Disclosure Ruling (abcnews.go.com)
- Canada’s top court issues HIV disclosure ruling (seattletimes.com)
Filed under: HIV and AIDS, HIV Prevention, Politics and Society, Society and living environment, Uncategorized, Aggravated sexual assault, condom, disclosure, hiv, Manitoba, people living with hiv, Quebec, sexual intercourse, viral load