Can I be sued or even arrested if I accidentally gave someone an STD?
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Can I be sued or even arrested if I accidentally gave someone an STD?
I have been seeing a woman on and off for a few years. I have had many partners during this time. Recently I was experiencing some weird symptoms and went to get checked out. Before my test results came back we had protected sex and the condom broke. I was very intoxicated and continued with sex. The next day I received a positive for chlamydia. I informed her that she should get tested. If she’s positive, Can she sue? Could I be arrested and jailed?
Asked on May 29, 2014 under Criminal Law, Maryland
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 9 years ago | Contributor
Criminal liability requires a criminal intent as well as a potentially criminal act. Criminal intent generally means either an intention to do the harmful act (whether or not you knew it was illegal) or at least recklessness, which goes beyond ordinary carelessness--the classic example is shooting a gun in the air in a crowded location. From what you write, you would not appear to have either recklessly (with no concern about consequences) or intentionally engaged in unprotected sex while having a STD; therefore, it appears that you would not, on these facts, face criminal liability.
However, civil liability (a lawsuit) only requires ordinary carelessness, or negligence. It could easily be considered careless to have sex, even with a condom, while one suspects that one may have an STD and while waiting for the test results, and without telling your partner ahead of time--the reasonable thing to do would have been to not have sex while waiting for the results. Therefore, the woman does contract the disease, she may be able to successfully sue you.
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