(click the button for more info, email me if you have any great ideas for a topic, I’d love to hear from you!)
I read an article recently about a woman who sued her ex-boyfriend for giving her an STD. And she won. It’s raised a ton of controversy in the legal system. Some experts believe such cases send a message that people need to take responsibility for their sexual behavior.
“If you engage in conduct that you know can cause harm to others, and fail to take precautions or give them an opportunity to opt out, you an hardly complain when you are held accountable” ~Areva Martin (author of “The Everyday Advocate”)
But others disagree saying we live in a highly ‘sue happy’ society, that because STD’s are so common, it could clog up our court system. Pointing out that a ‘better fix’ than suing would be better sex education.
Now. What made her case ‘news worthy’ was the type of STD she had. HPV is difficult to prove transmission by a specific sexual partner because there is no HPV test for men and they can be carriers with out ever experiencing symptoms. As well as it can lie dormant for years in a female, causing no symptoms or problems.
For the purpose of this CQW, I’m not wanting to dwell on which STD. Just the over-all question of would YOU sue over an STD?
I was actually super surprised, when I researched this article and the facts surrounding the case, to discover how many people when asked this question said- NO. Saying various statements like- the ruling seemed “over the top”, it was “unfair”. One person even said something to the effect of- sometimes bad things happen to good people and you have to roll with it rather than look for people to blame.
Right. Hmm…..
The case has sat with me. I’ve read both sides (as best you can, neither of them have ever given interviews, it’s just what is court documented) as well as the ‘for’ and ‘against’ points of views. I think in this day and age, with STD’s being as widespread and ‘common’ (ack- I hate to use that term) as they are. If someone willfully gives another an STD- as in KNOWS they have it and never make their sexual partner(s) aware of it- then YES. That person should be held accountable. Not taking accountability for one’s actions is a rather big character flaw in my opinion. It’s something we teach our children, it’s something I expect from other adults.
Now the question that comes up in my mind though is *would I*. That I’m not sure about. I’m inclined to say I probably wouldn’t. I’m not someone who likes to be involved in the court system. I am the utter opposite of ‘sue happy’. It just probably wouldn’t be in my nature to take such action.
Would YOU?
*****
HAPPY HUMP DAY!!!
~ xo
