A.I.D.S. infection may become crime

Press, 14 November 1987, Page 3

A.I.D.S. infection may become crime

PA Wellington The Crimes Bill— due to be introduced in Parliament early next year — was likely to increase the liability of people who infect others with A.1.D.5., the National Conference in Wellington heard yesterday. Professor Peter Skegg, of the University of Otago, said there had been few legislative moves in New Zealand in relation to A.I.D.S. compared with 360 different items of A.1.D.5.-related legislation introduced in the United States between January and April this year. In New Zealand the law was to be changed to

allow syringes to be provided to intravenous drug users. There had also been an indication by the Court of Appeal that sentencing policy might be changed to take A.I.D.S. into account. Professor Skegg said there was a significant gap in present laws relating to people being culpable of murder in that death had to occur within one year and a day. After recommendations by the Law Reform Committee this law was likely to be dropped and there would be a new offence of reckless endangerment. Professor Skegg said this legislation would have application to A.I.D.S.

carriers and it was likely their criminal liability would be increased. He said it was debatable whether this was all the legislation that would be required to deal with the implications of the A.I.D.S. virus (H.1.V.). Professor Skegg said he believed the law should play only a minor role in H.I.V. control. This was frustrating because laws, if enacted and obeyed, could significantly affect H.I.V. control. But more restrictive laws would have a very limited effect, especially in a society such as New Zealand which had a great emphasis on individual liberty.