It is irresponsible for one who is HIV-positive to conceive a child

These days there are meds with the specific and express purpose of preventing the spread of HIV from a mother to a child. Further, HIV is no longer a guaranteed death sentence. (I personally know someone who's been positive for over twenty years). Thus, if one is sufficiently vigilant and financially able, one could raise a healthy child with HiV as easily or moreso, as one could raise a healthy child with diabetes.

If someone lacks those things it is irresponisble but there are situations where it's irresponsible for anyone to conceive a child. So I don't think that's sufficient.

I've been thinking about this, and there are other possible factors. What about someone who has stored their sperm, say from before the person was HIV positive. Then would it be irresponsible for them to conceive a child when the child, assuming the mother is clean, has no risk of HIV? I don't think so. Many people with uncertain life expectancies (even moreso than normal, since everyone's is uncertain) have children, and I think that's okay in most cases.

Rachel, your exceptions definitely sounds like the sort of edge case that makes me believe in the "In general" rule of Jyte. Had I worded the claim to account for that, it would have been clumsy.

Cobra: Thanks for the heads up. I did some reading, and avert.org's HIV and pregnancy page indicates that the best they can do is get the odds down to "under 2%" (from 20..45% if no action is taken).

That still seems like a significant risk to me, but the odds (both best case and worst) are much better than I expected.

Assuming the mother had a choice in conceiving, yes.

And was informed.