Is it a crime to intentionally get someone sick?

Is It a Crime to Intentionally Get Someone Sick? A person whose intentional or reckless behavior spreads an infectious disease, such as HIV, SARS, or COVID-19, could face criminal charges. By Stacy Barrett, Attorney

Is it a crime to spread a contagious disease?

But intentional or reckless behavior that spreads a disease with serious public health consequences—such as HIV, SARS, Ebola, or COVID-19—can result in criminal charges. A majority of states have communicable disease laws that make it a crime to expose another person to a contagious disease on purpose.

What are the criminal charges for HIV infection?

In some states, individuals infected with HIV have been convicted of reckless endangerment for behavior, such as having unprotected sex, which might place others in danger of serious injury or death. Harassment and terrorist threat statutes target people who intentionally annoy, torment, or terrorize people with their behavior.

Can HIV-positive people be charged with assault?

In cases where people have knowingly exposed others to an undisclosed, life-threatening infection, like HIV or hepatitis C, prosecutors have filed charges for aggravated assault (assault causing serious bodily injury) or assault with a deadly weapon, on the theory that the bodily fluid of HIV-positive defendants is a deadly weapon.

Is it an offence to be drunk in a public place?

It is a public order offence to be drunk in a public place. If a Garda suspects that you are intoxicated in a public place they can take the intoxicating substance away from you. The penalty for being intoxicated in a public place is either:

Is it an offence to prevent someone from passing in public?

It is an offence to deliberately prevent or interrupt a person or vehicle from passing freely in a public place, unless you have the legal authority or a reasonable excuse to do this. The penalty for this offence is a fine of up to €400.

Can you be charged for spreading a communicable disease?

Prosecutors can charge assault and battery (inflicting or attempting to inflict bodily injury on another) if an individual knowingly exposes others to a communicable disease. For example, people who transmit undisclosed STIs, like chlamydia or herpes, have been convicted of simple assault for inflicting bodily injury on another.