If you know you are HIV-positive, and you have unprotected sex without telling your sexual partner about your HIV status, and your partner becomes infected as a result, it is possible you could have legal action taken against you. A small number of people with HIV have been imprisoned in the UK for knowingly passing their infection to a sexual partner.

If you are being investigated, or you think that someone may make a complaint against you, it’s important you get good advice and support from an HIV support organisation and that you find an experienced lawyer straight away, prior to making any statement.

In the UK, the Terrence Higgins Trust helpline, THT Direct, can help you find both these; you can speak to them in confidence on 0845 12 21 200. You may also want to speak to THT Direct or another support organisation if you are thinking of making a complaint.

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