Responsible adults
The recent case of the woman jailed for GBH for transmitting HIV raises serious
human rights issues. This woman and others imprisioned before her are being
treated as sacrificial lambs in a dangerous agenda promoted by the government
and backed by sections of the media.
Ms Porter was deigned solely responsible for the transmission of HIV, yet
she did not force her partners to practise unsafe sex. This government is
shifting personal responsibility from one adult to another just because that
person has HIV. While I sympathise with the man affected, by choosing to have
unsafe sex does he not have a responsibility for that choice? If not, then
it negates the status of adults in society as reasoned, thinking beings.
As a person with HIV, I feel this ruling is worrying and hypocritical. It
has singled out the transmission of one potentially life- threatening condition
and ignores public health as a whole. Tobacco causes thousands of deaths each
year, yet no cigarette makers will end up in court for GBH. Unlike Ms Porter,
they are too rich and powerful. Being poor and powerless is Ms Porter’s
real crime.
Many decent people may have their lives ruined because they are now deemed
the sole keepers of their partner’s sexual health. I fear for all of
us living with HIV and would caution those who criticise Ms Porter’s
behaviour that like her, they have sexual histories that may one day bring
them to a prison cell.
Name and address supplied
Lay off the CPS
It was with disbelief that I read both your editorial comment (PN 124) and
Dr Catherine Dodd’s comments (PN 112) concerning the CPS’s decision
to prosecute individuals who recklessly infect others with HIV. Far from accusing
the CPS of ‘terrorising’ PWAs to disclose our status, HIV organisations
ought to teach us how to deal with our status properly by coming out the closet
and dealing with any prejudice that arises.
We aren’t talking about disclosing to employers, neighbours or the press.
We are talking about the person with whom you are about to have sex. As responsible
human beings we are required by custom and decency to respect others in our
community.
Attempting to be apologists for this unacceptable behaviour is disgraceful.
Responsible criteria guarantee our houses are built to exacting standards,
our water is pure, and our vehicles are safe. All this means nothing if the
most intimate act allows us to infect and potentially kill each other without
legal sanction.
To accuse the CPS of causing enmity and stigma towards those of us living
with HIV is preposterous. The irresponsibility of some PWAs is the root cause
of public stigma towards us, and not the fault of the CPS.
The respect and protection of human life should be paramount, especially for
PWAs and their support organisations. You don’t have to be a ‘right-to-lifer’
nor a fanatic of any persuasion to understand that.
Laim James Hogan
Hostile docs
My consultant told me I would no longer be able to get diazepam from him.
The reason was cost, and he advised me to see my GP. I take a half diazepam
when I can’t sleep, especially when my medication (Sustiva) keeps me
awake, but not every night. My GP absolutely refused and gave me no reason
at all. I sat there wondering if I should bother to ask if he would prescribe
something else, but then quite unexpectedly he snapped at me that HIV was
no longer an excuse not to work. I was so shocked I didn’t know what
to say, so I just agreed with him.
Then he asked me why I was not working and before I could give any answer
he told me that lots of people have HIV and work. Again I agreed with him,
but added that many people with HIV cannot. This seemed to provoke him because
he said putting HIV on sick notes would be a thing of the past.
I receive only twenty pounds a week to top up my pension (that I worked for).
Yet the underlying message is clear: people with HIV are seen as a drain on
resources. I feel our doctors are becoming hostile to their patients, and
the special relationship has been eroded by prejudice and a lack of humanity.
If any doctor should read this letter, then I take this opportunity to remind
them of the Hippocratic Oath: “I will keep them from harm and injustice.”
Mark Thompson
In defence of Clayton
I was somewhat alarmed to read the letter “Rant about Racism”
(PN 122). I can see Edmund O’Sullivan’s point, but had he considered
what such a letter might do to Clayton Brown?
Here is a man diagnosed only six months ago, but brave enough to share his
innermost thoughts, doubts and determination with us. I am not the only one
who has found those columns inspirational. The courage of the man! But it
is also quite evident his bravado is camouflaging shock and grief, and he
is enduring the same emotions of headlessness most of us go through on hearing
we are HIV positive. He is as vulnerable as anyone else just after receiving
such news.
The columns are a chance for columnists get things off their chests and not
everyone has to agree with what is said. A published negative response said
with such force is never going to be helpful to someone still battling with
life-changing news.
Best wishes... and I still think PN is great.
Michael Ratsey
Please
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