A.i.d.s. Infection May Become Crime (Press, 14 November 1987)
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Summary: A.i.d.s. Infection May Become Crime (Press, 14 November 1987)
On 14 November 1987, during the National Conference in Wellington, Professor Peter Skegg from the University of Otago discussed the upcoming Crimes Bill set to be introduced in Parliament in early 1988. He highlighted that this bill is expected to increase the legal liability of individuals who infect others with AIDS. Skegg pointed out the stark contrast between the legislative action in New Zealand and the United States, where 360 items of AIDS-related legislation had been introduced in just the first few months of the year. In New Zealand, specific changes in the law were being proposed, notably allowing the provision of syringes to intravenous drug users to aid in harm reduction. Furthermore, the Court of Appeal had suggested that sentencing policies might shift to account for AIDS-related cases more appropriately. Skegg also noted a significant gap in existing laws regarding accountability for murder, particularly the stipulation that a death must occur within a year and a day of the act. He indicated that, following recommendations from the Law Reform Committee, this provision would likely be abolished, and a new offence, termed reckless endangerment, would be introduced. This anticipated legislation would hold AIDS carriers criminally liable, potentially increasing their culpability in cases of transmission. Despite these changes, Skegg expressed uncertainty about whether the legal modifications would be adequate to address the broader implications of the HIV virus. He contended that the law should only assume a minor role in managing HIV control efforts, which he found frustrating. He believed that while laws could have a significant impact if effectively enforced, overly restrictive measures would yield limited results, especially in New Zealand's societal context, which places high value on individual liberty.
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