Yesterday, January 21, it was reported that there have been a number of cases of victims exposed to the HIV virus with partners who did not disclose their status. Courts have received such cases and noticed that these are getting higher this time. They even label it as a game similar to the Russian Roullette.
In Washington, Col. Jeffrey Pounding a Special Forces official, was charged due to exposing a woman with the HIV virus, according to Army Times. He was being referred last January 9 to court-martial Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan, commander of the Military District of Washington and general courts-martial convening authority.
Pounding is also charged with assault, adultery, and conduct unbecoming an officer. According to the report, if he will be convicted, he will be imprisoned for 15 years and at the same time dismissal from service and total forfeiture of all pays and allowances.
Another similar incident was reported in Syracuse, New York. Terrence Williams, who infect his sexual partner, was charged with a felony reckless endangerment in 2010 for transmitting the virus his partner with the virus. Thus, he is facing court trial. However, this case is reduced to merely a misdemeanor. Inspite of the lawyer's defense, Judge Eugene Pigott still labels this case as an exact comparison to the mechanics of the Russian Roulette game.
Last year, as reported by Washington Post, the Seattle Courts have been seeking the attention of the man with the initials "AO" for privacy reasons who has been alleged spreading the HIV virus in the locality.
This same man was blamed for infecting 8 people since he knew he was infected. He was already advised to undergo treatment and attend counseling sessions, Yet, he failed to appear in his appointments. Superior Court Judge already told the man to comply in his last hearing.
The officials explained that they are not trying to criminalize sexual behaviors but they are just trying to protect the people from such virus.
In contrast, coalitions have announced their goal to make San Francisco as the "model city" for zero HIV virus cases in infections, deaths and stigmas. Edge Media Network reported that there is an aggressive plan mapped by the SF leaders. Their goal is to reach zero in HIV by 2020.
"Our hope is this is a plan that really makes San Francisco the first city in the nation, and essentially the world, to really virtually drive the epidemic out of existence," said Executive Director Dana Van Gorder of Project Inform. This plan generally includes giving medication named "Truvada" to HIV patients. This pill is marketed by Gilead Sciences.
The team composed of 25 leaders who are representing the public health department, city hall, community groups, private health care providers, and USCF officials, to devise a multi-pronged strategy to reduce the HIV cases dramatically with a dub, "Getting to Zero: Zero HIV Infections, Zero HIV Infections, Zero AIDS deaths, and Zero Stigma."
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