In a precedent-setting ruling, the Supreme Court of Sweden ruled that "thorough treatment" minimized the risk of infection, thus making a dent in the divulgence requirement for the HIV-positive before having unprotected sex.
Sweden's Supreme Court has acquitted an HIV-infected man of exposure to the risk of transmission, national broadcaster SVT reported.
The man previously had unprotected sex without warning his male partner of his serological status or the consequences thereof, and was charged with endangering the other man's health and exposing him to the risk of serious illness. In 2013, the man was given a written ruling from his physician to inform his potential sex partners of his serological status and always use condoms for all forms of intercourse. The prosecutor accused the man of gross negligence for failure to do so on several occasions.
The Supreme Court, however, acquitted the man, citing a certain risk level to be required for the case to be classified as "exposure to danger."
Citing several extensive international studies, the Supreme Court ruled that a "stable HIV treatment," which is defined by the virus continuously kept at an undetectable level, leads to a "minimal" risk of transmission. In this case, all the requirements were met, the court stressed. By contrast, people living with HIV who fail to take their medication can still be convicted. Read more via Sputnik News
Ground breaking HIV-ruling by the Swedish Supreme Court
Today (7 June 2018) a ruling by the Swedish Supreme court was announced resulting in the dismissal of a charge about HIV exposure. A man living with HIV was accused of causing danger to another person by having unprotected sex with another man. The person had well-functioning hiv treatment and an undetectable viral load, and HIV was not transmitted.
The court dismissed the lawsuit on the grounds that there is no risk for transmission from a person with a well-functioning treatment and an undetectable viral load. To convict a person of “causing danger to another person” there must have been an actual risk for HIV transmission.
International criticism
Sweden has a history of prosecuting more people living with HIV than other countries. The number of HIV related convictions in comparison with the number of people living with HIV has been significantly higher than in most other countries. In 2008 UNAIDS stated in a policy brief that criminalization of HIV exposure and transmission will not achieve either criminal justice or prevent HIV transmission, but on the contrary may undermine public health and human rights. Despite the UNAIDS statement the prosecutions of people living with HIV in Sweden have continued up until now, even in cases where there have been no risk for HIV transmission. Read more via RFSL
Banbrytande dom i hiv-fall
Idag (7 juni 2018) beslutade Högsta domstolen att ogilla ett åtal om framkallande av fara för annan mot en person som lever med hiv och som haft oskyddat sex med en annan man. Mannen hade en välfungerande hivbehandling och så låga virusnivåer att de inte går att mäta i blodet. Risken att överföra hiv till den andre var i princip därför noll. För att kunna döma någon för “framkallande av fara för annan” måste det ha funnits en faktiskt risk för hivöverföring. Domstolen ansåg att någon sådan risk inte förelåg och ogillade alltså åtalet.
Internationell kritik
Internationellt sett så har Sverige stuckit ut i den här frågan. Antalet åtal och domar i relation till antalet människor som lever med hiv har varit betydligt högre i Sverige än i de flesta andra länder. I få länder har hiv förknippats med brott och straff så mycket som här. FN-organet UNAIDS konstaterade redan år 2008 att kriminalisering av hivexponering och hivöverföring inte leder till positiva konsekvenser för hivprevention, utan enbart leder till ökat stigman för personer som lever med hiv. Det kan innebära en ökad risk för folkhälsan och ett hot mot mänskliga rättigheter. Trots detta har Sverige fortsatt dra personer inför rätta för oskyddat sex utan risk. Read more via RFSL