In the case of sexual assault, the assailant is not required to be tested for HIV infection, because this infringes on their right to privacy. The confidentiality laws regarding HIV were put in place to prevent discrimination by employers. Now the law has been twisted. Offenders will use compliance with testing to finagle a lighter sentence, or will refuse testing.altogether to aoid a heavier one. What about victims rights? We're not just dealing with rape, traumatic all on its own, but a disease that is equally difficult. Early information is best, and in order to know how best to help rape victims, we must first find out what exactly they could be coping with. We should change the laws so that, at the victims' discretion, the assailant should be tested for HIV immediately after the assault is reported and then 6 months later, in case of early infection at initial testing. The sooner the victim understands his or her risk, the sooner they can get the care they need.