Health authorities criticised as NZ man spread HIV

Updated June 23, 2009 07:35:56

Dozens of worried New Zealanders contacted an HIV support group over the weekend after police revealed the identity of a man they believe has been intentionally infecting people with the virus. So far, at least eight people who had sex with Glenn Mills - an Auckland train driver - have contracted HIV. The victims are both male and female.

Debate is now raging after it was revealed New Zealand health authorities knew about allegations involving Mr Mills for months, but police weren't contacted until a few days before the story broke on a gay website.

Presenter: Kerri Ritchie, New Zealand correspondent
Speaker: Bruce Kilmister, CEO of BodyPositive

RITCHIE: Some New Zealanders got an awful shock over the weekend. An Auckland court lifted a suppression order on the name and identity of a man police have charged with deliberately infecting people with HIV. On Saturday night photographs of Glenn Mills were beamed around the country on TV news bulletins.

NEWS BULLETIN: This is the man Police say deliberately spread the HIV virus, the photos were given to us by a former partner.

RITCHIE: Police allege the 40 year old - who was diagnosed with HIV five years ago - continued to use internet and telephone dating services to find sexual partners in Auckland and Wellington. Bruce Kilmister is the CEO of BodyPositive - a peer support organisation for New Zealanders living with HIV and Aids. He says they were phoned by at least 30 very worried people over the weekend.

KILMISTER: A lot of them were shocked when they saw the pictures in the paper.

RITCHIE: Bruce Kilmister says the eight people who have tested positive are devastated..

KILMISTER: These are young people who have just come to terms with their sexuality so it's all very raw for them.

RITCHIE: Health authorities reportedly knew for several months that Glenn Mills may be putting others at risk. Bruce Kilmister says doctors treating HIV patients can be in a tricky position, due to patient confidentiality. But he says if there's a serious threat to public health, the doctor has a responsibility to report the person.

KILMISTER: In terms of other cases this has come about fairly quickly after the first complaint, before police arrested him, so it isn't one of the worst. I refer to the Melbourne case where it took almost years for the officials to take action against this man, I think he went to jail for 18 years.

RITCHIE: Bruce Kilmister is referring to Michael Neal, the 50 year old from Coburg who was last year found guilty of deliberately spreading HIV. He boasted to people that he "got off" on infecting others. Doctor Tim Dare is researching medical ethics at Auckland University. He says the rules changed in New Zealand in the early 90s encouraging doctors to report risky behaviour more readily. But he says HIV is still not strictly a "notifiable disease".

KILMISTER: It is muddy, if someone poses a certain threat there should be provision to do something about it, but we need to tweek disclosure, but this is a very odd case.

RITCHIE: Half of all the New Zealanders with HIV are heterosexual. Bruce Kilmister says people in Australia should pay attention to this case across the Tasman.

KILMISTER: It is a tragedy, young people being taken advantage of, it's an absolute tragedy

RITCHIE: Glenn Mills is in police custody in Auckland and will be back in court in a fortnight.