A court order has been issued to stop a Seattle man from infecting people with HIV.
According to King County court documents a man identifed only as “AO” has infected at least eight people with the virus.
According to the newspaper ( the Seattle Times), AO tested positive for HIV in June 2008 and instructed to disclose his status to sex partners and to practice safe sex. But since then, he is believed to have infected eight adult partners from 2010 through this June, without telling them beforehand that he carries the AIDS virus.
Public health officials said in court documents, the Times said, that eight people newly diagnosed with HIV had named AO as a partner with whom they had unprotected sex.
According to the newspaper, Dr. Matthew Golden, director of Public Health — Seattle & King County’s HIV/STD Control Program, said, “We’re not trying to criminalize sexual behavior here. We are trying to protect the public’s health. And we’re trying to make sure that everyone gets the care they need, including the person involved in this.”
The agency’s cease-desist order requires AO to seek treatment, Golden said, but does not compel him to comply.
“He can go to the doctor and not take the pills” for HIV, Golden said.
Agencies/Canadajournal
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