Court Says Colorado Disease Control Constitutional

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Court of Appeals says state laws ordering people with infectious diseases to get treatment and avoid contact with others are constitutional, but health officials must be able to present evidence in court to back up their decisions.

The appeals court on Thursday struck down health department orders that a man infected with HIV avoid unprotected sex and tell partners about his infection, ruling that written statements from health professionals and out-of-court testimony offered by the health department to support their decision were not sufficient.

The man said other infections could have caused positive tests for the virus that can cause AIDS.

An attorney for the unidentified man did not return a phone call seeking comment.

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