Veda Collmer

Veda Collmer, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Visiting Attorney at the College of Law, was quoted in an article in the Arizona Capitol Times by Sean Peick on Jan. 28.

The article, titled “Bill seeks felony charge for intentionally exposing others to STDs,” explores a bill proposed by Rep. Lela Alston, D-Phoenix, that would make it a felony to intentionally expose others to sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea, Chlamydia, syphilis or HIV.

Collmer, a fellow in the Public Health Law and Policy Program at the College of Law, said there was a trend in the late 1980s and early 1990s to criminalize this kind of behavior. However, laws that were passed have nearly all been repealed, she said.

“They’re very difficult to prosecute,” said Collmer. “It would be hard to meet the burden of proof.”

To read the article, click here.

Veda Collmer received her degree in 2008 from the City University of New York School of Law, where her studies concentrated on public health law and policy.