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1/2. Andrew, it's not about stigmatising. Some people might think it is - as you do - but it's clearly an attempt to control / limit the spread. Your insurance companies operate in a capitalist system - so they don't want to pay out. Nor do your States or your Fed want to pay out. It's very expensive to have to pay out. So, they've come up with other strategies like making people act responsibly and prosecuting. They are using both carrot and stick.
It's absolutely about stigmatizing. If they wanted to stop the spread of disease, they'd just demand the insurance companies do their job and pay for treatment. It is absolutely shameful that a curable disease is being criminalized instead of cured. Our government is worthless and our laws are absurd.
Prosecutions, yes! People should be prosecuted, BUT ONLY if they don't take sufficient steps to avoid passing on an infectious disease. Yes, if a person malevolently or neglectfully puts another / others at risk then those doing so should be brought before the courts. And the same should be the case be it syphyllis, herpes, HIV, HTLV, any of the heps, gonorrrhea, or whatever. This is not about stigmatising.
This makes no logical sense. There is a vaccine for Hepatitis A and B. Hepatitis C is now curable. There should be no criminalization laws. We all know the truth behind the HIV criminalization laws but Hepatitis? Conservative states must hate IV drug users as much as they hate the gays. Take responsibility for your own decision to choose a needle or bareback sex! There should be no criminalization laws unless you want to include spreading influenza, which kills many more people every year!
RichardUK
2/2. People are being provided with treatment where possible in the USA and in Western Europe, too. Prevention strategy is also being publicised and funded. It's just that it is all very expensive. The insurance companies, your States and your Fed can't afford to pay out more or they choose not to. It's the same the UK - apart from insurance companies not being a factor here. Some other countries can't afford it or else don't care. Go to Russia or Saudi Arabia to taste actual stigma about this!
September 4, 2018 • UK