What punishment should HIV spreaders get?

[Cheetah77]

So Stuart McDonald has been arrested for allegedly infecting up to 12 men with HIV...

As these cases become more common, what do you think should be done to show these people that their behaviour is not only thoughtless and selfish, but morally reprehensable and criminal!

Do you think that giving these guys a prison sentence will make them realise that their behaviour ruins peoples lives?

[Brett Hayhoe]

Reckless endangerment is a serious crime and if proved beyond reasonable doubt should be treated likewise with the full extent of law being use against the guilty party or parties. It is however pertinent to understand a couple of things:

1 - these cases are rare and extraordinary - most people living with HIV/AIDS would not even consider "giving" the virus to anyone else
2 - we as a people and the Government alike needs to be very cautious in not allowing these cases to tar all PLWHA with the same brush - disclosure is already a major issue for positive people...the last thing we need is to foster a situation of fear within the community as this will only exacerbate the problem
3 - we currently work in this country on a health model - which generally works very effectively...it has already been mooted to change this to a criminal model which has the real possibility of treating innocent people as guilty prior to being proved
4 - risk minimisation is both a shared and an individual responsibility...dont instantly blame the positive person for unsafe sexual behaviour - "it takes two to tango"
5 - be very cautious not to take a knee-jerk stance - in Victoria alone there is just under 4000 people living with HIV/AIDS - the number of alleged cases pails in significance to the overall community who do act responsibly

I am not, in any way shape or form, trying to trivialise the seriousness of such [unsafe] behaviour, but simply highlighting some points that will hopefully stop you from victimising those who do the right thing. The last thing our community needs to do is marginalise PLWHA even further than they are already.

My thoughts :) Hope you understand.

[danny corvini]

What happens when someone like Stuart McDonald gets to prison?
Tell everyone that they're HIV+ and they'll probably get bashed.
Don't tell everyone they're HIV+ and they'll infect more people.
Put them in isolation at a very high expense.
It's food for thought for anyone who would imitate their behaviour, but also something that the community and legal system obviously need to give a lot of thought to, too. What is the appropriate "full extent of the law" reaction that needs to take place in this, a very new situation? (that we are aware of..)

[Ramrod]

Well stated, Brett. Yes, we do need to keep things in perspective. To me it highlights the fact that we all need to take personal responsibility when we have sex. Don't assume that your sex partner has your personal interests at heart. Insist on safe sex. If they don't like it then you know what to do. I have been in group situations where guys have wanted to be fucked by anyone without any checks on their part whether anyone is wearing a condom. It doesn't happen occasionally, it happens all the time.

[KaneMatthews]

what do you think should be done to show these people that their behaviour is not only thoughtless and selfish, but morally reprehensable and criminal!

Do you think that giving these guys a prison sentence will make them realise that their behaviour ruins peoples lives?[/QUOTE]

WTF!!

Would this purhaps constitute vilification?? "Those People" are part of your community. Its because of "those people" that ACON exists, gay rights were cemented, funding for community health is available. THat anti discrimination law exists.

The amount of guys I know who are reckless with their own lives, neg guys, just like you, who just dont give a rats arse about themselves or others, is huge.. what to do about them?? Do we lock up EVERYONE who has unsafe sex?? Just because the neg guys are the ones spreading HIV by having copious amounts of unsafe sex and not getting tested...

again.. WTF??

[danny corvini]

Hi KaneMatthews, I think you have come to this forum way past its date. It was started in the heat of the Stuart McDonald case back in April last year and the debate was very much focussed on that, and how to deal with people like he who deliberately infected people. FYi
Cheers, Danny

[DarlingSweety]

Oh he wasnt even that cute darlings i saw him on the news not my type xxxx

[individualstill]

Yes, so many people to avoid who have little self esteem and dont respect themselves enough to be safe. Oh and people like Stuart Mcdonald should get the firing squad, life in prison without parole, whatever the worst is we can do is not enough really.

[davewb]

So Stuart McDonald has been arrested for allegedly infecting up to 12 men with HIV...

As these cases become more common, what do you think should be done to show these people that their behaviour is not only thoughtless and selfish, but morally reprehensable and criminal!

Do you think that giving these guys a prison sentence will make them realise that their behaviour ruins peoples lives?
Barebacking is a complex and understudied phenomenon. One has to Q the guys who were infected. Safe sex info etc is all around in the gay venues, press etc...it's taught in schools. Who would have unsafe sex on a verbal confirmation of HIV negativity???

Barebacking occurs all the time in sex venues.....quite shocking to see young dudes on some drug being ganged by all and sundry.

[DarlingSweety]

oh on gaydar sweetys where it says "safe sex??" you can tick "never", "occaisonly", "needs discussion", and "always" yet many of these who tick always are on squirt saying bareback me??? I just think it takes two to tango darlings but only one to kill so wear a condom and besides anal sex isnt the be all and end all of a good time really sweetys - if they beg you to fuck them bare they probably beg everyone to.... yukkky

[davewb]

Yes, so many people to avoid who have little self esteem and dont respect themselves enough to be safe. Oh and people like Stuart Mcdonald should get the firing squad, life in prison without parole, whatever the worst is we can do is not enough really.
Harsh words! Unless he raped the guys (I'm not familar with the story), then the infected guys should also take some responsibility for their actions.

[davewb]

Barebacking is a complex and understudied phenomenon. One has to Q the guys who were infected. Safe sex info etc is all around in the gay venues, press etc...it's taught in schools. Who would have unsafe sex on a verbal confirmation of HIV negativity???

Barebacking occurs all the time in sex venues.....quite shocking to see young dudes on some drug being ganged by all and sundry.
Good point darlingsweetie! Barebacking is an established, and in some cases, normalised activity in our community. Like the option on gaydar, there are also BB porn movies that seem to top the best seller lists.

[individualstill]

Harsh words! Unless he raped the guys (I'm not familar with the story), then the infected guys should also take some responsibility for their actions.

Yes because something happens all the time it doesnt make it right. Personally after reading a lot on the case and his attitude towards adelaide gays it was pretty obvious he had total disregard or remorse for what he was doing. The court has previously heard psychiatrists claim he has a narcissistic personality and was dismissive about infecting others, saying "that's their problem". Yes people should take some responsibility if not all the responsibility for their own health in this area but I cant wait to see what happens in this case and I hope he gets the maximum penalty as to deter anyone else who thinks this kind of thing is remotely appropriate. I think the "harsh" thing is that 8 people or more now have to pop pills for the rest of their lives to try and stay healthy who wouldnt have had to if screwed up personalities like this didnt exist.

[DarlingSweety]

Oh this topic is not a nice one even Annette wont sit on my lap as I type about it..

well I also heard he grew dope under lights and many went there for dope. I know one guy who claims he is a victim asked me to bare back him without meeting so I do wonder who the victims are and lets not forget darlings there is a new clan of people called seed seekers or gift givers where hiv+ guys are practically begged to pass on the disease i can only think its a kind of suicide/depresion, on wiki they say pple feel they can "belong" to a group when infected. I think it sets back the acceptance of our aids positive brothers and sisters darlings its not good

My friend told me all hiv pple should have a tattoo on their penis darlings like a red ribbon but what if they find a cure?

anyway I dont like this topic or sturat mcdonald darlings so have a good weekend xxxx love you all