Should Not Disclosing Your HIV Status Be a Crime?

[Swede Atlanta]

4. I have to place this situation in context.....

From what I can tell from the map - -

The "red" states (such as Iowa) do not have a law requiring disclosure of an STD but have one that requires disclosure of HIV status. Prosecutions for non-disclosure are exclusively for violation of the law requiring HIV disclosure

"The "green" states do not have a law requiring disclosure of an STD but have one that requires disclosure of HIV status. Prosecutions for non-disclosure are available for violation of failure to disclose HIV status as well as other felony statutes, e.g. endangering the life of another, etc.

If that's the case then I have an issue. If one is going to be intimate with anyone and knows they have any type of communicable disease (STD or other), that status should be disclosed to the other person for their informed participation.

But I have a problem where it appears states have an HIV disclosure requirement but no disclosure of STDs. While HIV kills, it is a more manageable virus than before and can often be treated as a chronic condition. But the same can be said for STDs. Herpes, for example, never goes away. It can be managed but it is with you for life. There are virulent strains of gonorrhea and syphilis that are virtually untreatable.

So HIV should not be singled out. Any communicable disease that can be transmitted by intimate contact should require disclosure.