Table of Contents
- 1 What are partner notification laws?
- 2 How many states require that you disclose your status to your partner?
- 3 What do I do if my partner has an STD?
- 4 Can I sue someone for not telling me they have an STD?
- 5 Can you get an STD even if neither partner has one?
- 6 Can you charge someone for giving you an STD?
What are partner notification laws?
Many states and some cities have partner-notification laws—meaning that, if you test positive for HIV, you (or your healthcare provider) may be legally obligated to tell your sex or needle-sharing partner(s). In some states, if you are HIV-positive and don’t tell your partner(s), you can be charged with a crime.
How many states require that you disclose your status to your partner?
None/General Criminal Statutes (n=13) In 12 states, laws require people with HIV who are aware of their status to disclose their status to sex partners, and 4 states require disclosure to needle-sharing partners. The maximum sentence length for violating an HIV-specific statute is also a matter of state law.
Is it illegal to knowingly transmit an STD?
Transmitting an STD can be a crime in California. It is prohibited by California Health and Safety Code 120290. People who know they are infected with an STD can be liable if they intentionally infect someone else. They can also be held liable if they got a third party to transmit their STD to someone else.
Do you legally have to tell someone you have an STD in Texas?
There isn’t a law in Texas that makes it illegal for you to not tell a partner you have an STD or STI. However, it is illegal to knowingly or recklessly transmit an STD. As mentioned, if you don’t tell a partner about your STD and they contract the disease, you could face criminal charges, as well a civil lawsuit.
What do I do if my partner has an STD?
The most helpful thing you can do is listen to your partner’s concerns and fears and offer information about the STD. Give your partner time to take in the information. If you and your partner have already had sex, stop having sex until you can both get tested, even if your partner doesn’t have any symptoms.
Can I sue someone for not telling me they have an STD?
The answer is yes; you can sue someone for sexual battery no matter what STD was passed on. Sexual battery means sexual contact was made towards another individual without their consent. In the case of STDs, a battery case could be made since the known risk of contracting an STD was non-consensual.
Can you get in trouble for not telling someone you have an STD?
As a general rule, no, you do not have an obligation to tell your partner if you have a sexually transmitted disease. There aren’t any federal or state laws making it illegal for you to not tell a partner about an STD you may have.
Can a doctor tell your partner you have an STD?
If a health care provider contacts your partners, your name or other personal information will not be used. The health care provider will tell the person they may have an STI and encourage them to come in for testing and treatment.
Can you get an STD even if neither partner has one?
If 2 people who don’t have any STDs have sex, it’s not possible for either of them to get one. A couple can’t create an STD from nothing — they have to get spread from one person to another.
Can you charge someone for giving you an STD?
In simpler terms, you could face criminal charges for giving another person an STD if you knowingly and willfully transmit the disease to them (or cause it to be transmitted to them).
Are you legally required to tell someone you have an STD?
As a general rule, no, you do not have an obligation to tell your partner if you have a sexually transmitted disease. That being said, it is typically illegal, civilly and criminally, to knowingly or recklessly transmit an STD. Telling someone you have an STD is not the same obligation as knowingly transmitting an STD.
Are you legally obligated to tell someone you have an STD?