Another brilliant decision....

[Pamela]

I am in complete shock. I was naive enough to think that you could be prosecuted for knowingly spreading any sexually transmitted disease.

I just don't fucking believe this.

http://cbc.ca/stories/2002/10/29/hepC_sex021029

 

[Freya]

Well considering the Crown's own witness agreed that it can't be spread through sexual activity, that totally destroys their own case.

 

[Pamela]

True enough. But, Health Canada also said there was the possibility. It just made my stomach turn.

What are the laws about this in the US? Do you have to tell, or don't you?

 

[Lancecastor]

The thing is, Pamela.....HepC is not an STD.

Here's my rough understanding of the way it works in Canada:

In Canada, knowingly transmitting an STD can be treated as "aggravated assault" under the criminal code of canada as a matter of social policy by a crown prosecutor.

To date, this broadening of the judicial definition of assault to include std's was limited to HIV...it is considered a crime to knowingly transmit HIV (unprotected, not telling, etc).

The Fredericton case was significant because it's the first time a prosecution was attempted to get a court to broaden the definition of assault to include transmission of HepC via sex in Canada.

The case failed because the court ruled that HepC is not primarily transmitted via sex fluids, but by blood, thereby not making it an STD and hence not a candidate for "assault" via the sex which took place between the men in question.

That being said, HepC, though fairly rare, is quite nasty and those who catch it rarely know they have it until their liver is already damaged.

There is a series of 3 shots you can get to be immunized from HepB, but if you work around blood you already know that.

See also:
this link at aidslaw.ca

I am in complete shock. I was naive enough to think that you could be prosecuted for knowingly spreading any sexually transmitted disease.

I just don't fucking believe this.


http://cbc.ca/stories/2002/10/29/hepC_sex021029

 

[Pamela]

Re: Re: Another brilliant decision....

The thing is, Pamela.....HepC is not an STD.

The case failed because the court ruled that HepC is not primarily transmitted via sex fluids, but by blood, thereby not making it an STD and hence not a candidate for "assault" via the sex which took place between the men in question.

I have heard of other cases in which people were prosecuted for other STDs. I guess the key phrase is "primarily transmitted". Which, HepC is not. It does still frighten me however. When HIV first became really known, and thrown in the public eye, it was mainly attributed to gay men.

What else are they wrong about?

 

[ksmybuttons]

Re: Re: Another brilliant decision....

There is a series of 3 shots you can get to be immunized from HepC, but if you work around blood you already know that.

"...The findings are important because no vaccines exist for preventing hepatitis C in humans although preliminary vaccine research in primates appears promising."

Correct information buddy says: The vaccine is for Hep B.

 

[Lancecastor]

Re: Re: Re: Another brilliant decision....

I'd be more concerned about the rise in Tuberculosis...you can catch it if a tuberculoid third world "welcome to canada" driver coughs on you in one of those stinky downtown cabs at 4am.

Gay, straight, clothes on or off, TB is The Next Big Thing in Canada.

There are lots more deadly diseases you can catch without even having sex!

I have heard of other cases in which people were prosecuted for other STDs. I guess the key phrase is "primarily transmitted". Which, HepC is not. It does still frighten me however. When HIV first became really known, and thrown in the public eye, it was mainly attributed to gay men.

What else are they wrong about?

 

[Lancecastor]

Re: Re: Re: Another brilliant decision....

"...The findings are important because no vaccines exist for preventing hepatitis C in humans although preliminary vaccine research in primates appears promising."

Correct information buddy says: The vaccine is for Hep B.

Thanks, I knew that. Post edited.

L

 

[ksmybuttons]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Another brilliant decision....

I'd be more concerned about the rise in Tuberculosis...you can catch it if a tuberculoid third world "welcome to canada" driver coughs on you in one of those stinky downtown cabs at 4am.

Gay, straight, clothes on or off, TB is The Next Big Thing in Canada.

"TB is spread when people who have active untreated TB germs in their lungs or throat cough, sneeze or speak, and send their germs into the air. People who breathe these germs into their lungs can become infected.

People who breathe in TB germs usually have had very close, day-to-day, contact with someone who has the disease. That's why most people get TB germs from someone they spend a lot of time with, like a family member, friend or close co-worker.

You're not likely to get TB from someone coughing in the subway or at a restaurant. It is not spread by dishes, drinking glasses, sheets or clothing. "

The concern with TB is that it is becoming resistant to the medications that are used and the populations that get it are not good about taking the meds which creates greater resistance.

 

[Lancecastor]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Another brilliant decision....

The concern with TB is that it is becoming resistant to the medications that are used and the populations that get it are not good about taking the meds which creates greater resistance.

TB can indeed be contracted during relatively short exposures in close quarters....like a ride in a hot cab in winter with the windows up, for example.

In Canada, immigration policy, cutbacks to the pre-immigration screening budgets and discontinuation of routine screening twenty years ago in schools have resulted in a flattening of incidence rates of TB in larger cities like montreal , calgary, vancouver and toronto (high immigration locations) after decades of steady decline.

 

[ksmybuttons]

Reported MTB isolates in Canada by province/territory – 2000 (n = 1,464

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pphb-dgspsp/publicat/tbdrc00/images/fig2_e.gif

The figures are from 2000 but still in the statistical ball park. Out of the 1464 cases of TB, 164 were drug resistant.

Canadian statistics. Again, your chances of contracting TB riding in a hot cab with the windows up are still pretty low...not paranoia material.

 

[Lancecastor]

Canadian statistics. Again, your chances of contracting TB riding in a hot cab with the windows up are still pretty low...not paranoia material.

Compared to HepC from straight protected sex?

No stats on that comparo.....my guess is the sex is safer than the cab ride.

Hence my raising it. The concern, that is.

 

[ksmybuttons]

Compared to HepC from straight protected sex?

No stats on that comparo.....my guess is the sex is safer than the cab ride.

Hence my raising it. The concern, that is.

Okay. Straight Protected Sex. I am sure that is what we all practice all the time.

 

[teddybear4play]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Another brilliant decision....

Gay, straight, clothes on or off, TB is The Next Big Thing in Canada.

You're goddamn right. Canadians love me.

Oh, wait . . . shit.

I was wondering how long it would take after I registered with this nick before somebody mentioned tuberculosis.

6½ months, evidently.

TB4p