Should the actions of sexual predators who intentionally spread HIV/AIDS be treated as a crime?
• Douglas Leys, deputy solicitor-general: “We ought to have specific legislation regarding the wilful spread of the AIDS virus to unsuspecting persons as there may be loopholes under the law now. But I am saying this against the view that the current legislation may be inadequate as I haven’t studied this scenario fully.” • Cory Mills, assistant public defender: “As it stands now, that sort of act would fall under attempted murder, or causing grievous bodily harm. But there are some concerns that it doesn’t fall under the common law principle which says that the ‘person must die within a year and a day’ of the act, for it to be considered murder or manslaughter, especially with medical advances that allow greater longevity. There should be a special override legislation with respect to HIV and other deadly incurable diseases to amend that so that it can be considered an out-an-out criminal offence.” • Father Richard Albert of the Stella Maris Foundation: “I can’t comment on the legal c
