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Medical Experts Call For Updates To Michigan’s HIV Law

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Medical experts from around the state say people with HIV need to be treated like patients, not criminals.  They support legislation that would reduce the criminalization of the disease.

A package of bills in the state Legislature would change the state’s laws.  That would include changing the criminal penalty for someone who doesn’t disclose they have HIV to a sexual partner.  Right now, it’s a felony to not disclose – even if the partner doesn’t get HIV. 

Representative Jon Hoadley is a bill sponsor.  He says those criminal penalties can, in some cases, prevent some people from even getting tested in the first place.

“We have the opportunity to be the generation that ends HIV.”

Other legislation would update the language of some of the laws.  The laws are so old, in some cases, they reference tests that are not performed anymore.

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—Cheyna Roth is a reporter for the Michigan Public Radio network.  Contact WEMU News at734.487.3363 or email us at studio@wemu.org

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