# Should people who intentionally try to spread HIV be convicted of attempted murder?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-who-intentionally-try-to-spread-hiv-be-convicted-of-attempted-murder/472401>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [November 12, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-who-intentionally-try-to-spread-hiv-be-convicted-of-attempted-murder/472401 "2008-11-12T19:44:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![placebo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e274bd/32.png) [@placebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/placebo)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-who-intentionally-try-to-spread-hiv-be-convicted-of-attempted-murder/472401/21 "2008-11-13T08:35:00Z")

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> [@Chronos](#):
>
> What if a person with HIV engages in voluntary sex with someone without disclosing their infection? There’s no other crime involved, so it can’t be felony murder. And the intent is not to cause harm to the other person, but simply to get laid (which is probably harder if your prospective partner knows that you’re HIV-positive).

In Canada, that’s sexual assault and [possibly murder](http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/10/20/aziga-trial.html).

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**Author:** ![Otara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a88e4f/32.png) [@Otara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otara)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-who-intentionally-try-to-spread-hiv-be-convicted-of-attempted-murder/472401/22 "2008-11-13T09:28:56Z")

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If I get stabbed I would need medical intervention to live so its considered attempted murder.

How is this different from someone giving me a disease that would kill me without medical intervention being involved?

To me simply that the issue is resolvable doesnt absolve the act of being potentially lethal.

Otara

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**Author:** ![Hi\_Neighbor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hi_neighbor/32/494_2.png) [@Hi\_Neighbor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hi_Neighbor)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-who-intentionally-try-to-spread-hiv-be-convicted-of-attempted-murder/472401/23 "2008-11-13T13:03:55Z")

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Here’s another hypothetical situation:

What if a person intentionally infects someone with HIV, gets charged with attempted murder, then the victim later dies as a direct result from having the virus? Does the attempted murder charge get upped to full blown murder?

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