Criminal Transmission of HIV Law and Legal Definition
Criminal transmission of HIV is a crime of intentionally or recklessly inflicting a person with HIV. HIV is the abbreviation used for Human immunodeficiency virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). AIDS is a condition in human in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections. Infection with HIV occurs by the transfer of blood, semen, vaginal fluid, pre-ejaculate, or breast milk. In the U.S., some states have enacted laws expressly to criminalize HIV transmission. Florida is an example of a state that criminalizes transmission of HIV. Pursuant to Fla. Stat. § 775.0877, any act or transmission of HIV is a criminal offense. A person transmitting HIV can be charged with murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, or assault. Any transplantation of HIV infected organs, tissues, and blood is also an offence and a person carrying on the act will be held liable for transmitting virus.
