Criminalising Contagion

A multidisciplinary and international examination of the developing debates around using the criminal law to sanction disease transmission.

This volume considers historical comparisons and the current laws in jurisdictions such as Canada, the United Kingdom and Norway in order to explore the question of if and when it is appropriate to criminalise the transmission of contagion.The use of the criminal law to punish those who transmit disease is a topical and controversial issue. To date, the law, and the related academic literature, has largely focused on HIV transmission. With contributions from leading practitioners and international scholars from a variety of disciplines, this volume explores the broader question of if and when it is appropriate to criminalise the transmission of contagion. The scope and application of the laws in jurisdictions such as Canada, the United Kingdom and Norway are considered, historical comparisons are examined, and options for the further development of the law are proposed.