Police: Man exposes hundreds to HIV: Should he be convicted of attempted murder?
We are learning more about a Missouri man who could face 15 years to life for possibly infecting up to 300 people with HIV.
According to court documents, David Mangum first tested positive for the virus back in 2003 and since then he's acknowledged that he's has had more than 300 sexual partners.
Police: Missouri man secretly exposed partner, and maybe 300 others, to HIV
Including one with a 28-year-old who later tested positive for the virus two months ago.
Missouri is one of 37 states that makes it a crime to knowingly transmit HIV to others and its penalties are among the toughest.
The question is – should he get the max 15 years or is knowing you could infect people tantamount to murder?
OutFront: Mediaite's Joe Concha and HIV/AIDS activist Sean Strub.
On Twitter
there will "NEVER" be a cure for HIV as long as PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY are raking in the big buck!
And if they did find a cure. The damage to the body of indivisible may not be reversible.
So I take it then Linda and Aaron either of you are HIV+. Yes you are correct inn both accounts Linda, it does take every person a different amount of time to sero convert BUT the amount of time (WINDOW PERIOD) is 6 weeks to 6 months. Most people sero convert within 3 months. So if someone tests within the window period and they retest 3 months after their first test then then will know beyond a shadow of a doubt if they have been infected with the HIV virus or not. If after the six month window period they test again an find themselves HIV+ they have placed themselves in another risky behavior situation and became infected from or in another way. Just because an HIV + diagnosis des not have to mean a dead sentence any more does that still give people the right to knowingly transmit the virus? What if this person that is infected unknowingly doesn't find until their infected until they already have an AUDS diagnosis and their immune system is so compromised that they can't recover and they die from their disease? People usually don't test until they are sick and yes even today people still can and do die from the disease. Linda you are correct that this should not be any different than someone infecting someone else with Herpes or HPV because they are all virus that left untreated can cause someone many health problem and in some causes even death. Thirty years later not only do prosecuting attorneys do not understand the disease as well most of the American population. Why would I educate myself on something that I don't think I am at risk for or fit the criteria for. Know what we are taking about before we spout off our thoughts on someone else's future and livelihood.
Janet Johnson
Peer Mentor
HIV Educator
Person Living with HIV/AIDS for28years
HIV/AIDS Advocate
The answer to "take the test risk arrest" is not to decriminalize exposing someone to HIV. It's to make ignorance no excuse. Make it everyone's responsibility to know their status and make it criminal to expose others even if you didn't know you were poz.
HIV infection no longer means that a person will die or even have their virus change into an AIDS diagnosis. No this, how then could anyone think that it would be appropriate to suggest prosecuting him for attempted murder? That is an absurd suggestion.
This man is guilty of not disclosing. Everyone is responsible for their own welfare. To prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that this man infected anyone; you must prove that his partner was not already infected. Sero conversion happens at different times with each individual. CNN needs to do a complete program on this disease covering all walks of life to educated law enforcement and the nation. Thirty years later, prosecuting attorneys still don't understand this disease. Why convict this man and not the husband who brings home herpes or HPV? Same thing.