HIV denialism refers to a view that AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is not caused by the HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). This belief is contradicted by compelling medical and scientific evidence and consensus, but is a view that is promoted by the denialists.
Claims by the HIV denialists:
- The main claim is that HIV is not sexually transmitted and it does not cause AIDS
- The deaths attributed to AIDS are deaths that are caused by malnutrition, hygiene, recreational drugs, and the antiretroviral drugs used to treat the condition
- The actual existence of HIV has not been proven; or if it exists, then it is a harmless ‘passenger’ virus
- The tests for HIV are unreliable
- HIV does not fulfill Koch’s postulates for a causal relationship between an infective agent and a disease.
- HIV is an invented fiction by the pharmaceutical companies to make more money
The claims are largely based on pseudoscience and conspiracy theories.
Debunking claims:
The website Aidstruth.org was set up by scientists to debunk the claims made by the HIV deniers.
Relevance to Podiatry:
- All health professionals have a responsibility for promoting a scientific evidence based approach to health and health care.
- This is a public health issue, that all health professionals need to be concerned about and active in addressing. Public education and health promotion campaigns need to be supported.
External Links:
HIV/AIDS denialism (Wikipedia)
HIV denial (Rational Wiki)
HIV Denial in the Internet Era (PlosOne)
AIDS Denialism vs. Science (Skeptical Inquirer)
HIV/AIDS denial (HAD) (Skeptics Dictionary)
The Cult of HIV Denialism (TheBody)
What’s the harm in HIV/AIDS denial? (WhatTheHarm?)
HIV Denial and “Just Asking Questions” (Science Based Medicine)
Debunking denialist myths (AidsTruth)
13 AIDS Denialists Who Died of AIDS (Back From Nature)
Related Topics:
Reality Check: How Science Deniers Threaten Our Future | Koch’s Postulates | Confounding by Indication | AIDS | Acyclovir | Germ theory denialism
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