Uganda considers HIV death penalty

KAMPALA, Uganda, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- Uganda is considering legislation that would impose a death sentence for intentional or willful transmission of the virus that causes AIDS, authorities say.

While the measure has not been passed by the country's parliament, courts have started handing out sentences for people convicted of knowingly spreading the human immunodeficiency virus, Uganda's New Vision newspaper reported Monday.

In one case, a man was sentenced to 14 years for infecting a 19-year-old mentally ill woman with HIV/AIDS, the newspaper said.

The proposed law would require HIV-positive people to inform sexual partners of their status. Medical personnel would also be allowed to reveal a person's HIV status to the partner.

AIDS activists have criticized the proposed law. It will discourage people from getting tested for HIV, they say, hindering efforts at prevention.

The United Nations' agency fighting HIV, UNAIDS, warns that making cases other than intentional transmission criminal might lead to distrust between patients and medical workers.