Denying AIDS

Since the discovery of HIV, there has been a concerted effort to spread misinformation about AIDS. This book exposes that effort, from its origins in the epidemic's earliest days to the psychology and politics of the current denial movement.

Paralleling the discovery of HIV and the rise of the AIDS pandemic, a flock of naysayers has dedicated itself to replacing genuine knowledge with destructive misinformationand spreading from the fringe to the mainstream media and the think tank. Now from the editor of the journal AIDS and Behavior comes a bold exposé of the scientific and sociopolitical forces involved in this toxic evasion. Denying AIDS traces the origins of AIDS dissidents disclaimers during the earliest days of the epidemic and delves into the psychology and politics of the current denial movement in its various incarnations. Seth Kalichman focuses not on the difficult or doubting patient, but on organized, widespread forms of denial (including the idea that HIV itself is a myth and HIV treatments are poison) and the junk science, faulty logic, conspiracy theories, and larger forces of homophobia and racism that fuel them. The malignant results of AIDS denial can be seen in those individuals who refuse to be tested, ignore their diagnoses, or reject the treatments that could save their lives. Instead of ignoring these currents, asserts Kalichman, science has a duty to counter them. Among the topics covered: Why AIDS denialism endures, and why science must understand it. Pioneer virus HIV researcher Peter Duesberg's role in AIDS denialism. Flawed immunological, virological, and pharmacological pseudoscience studies that are central to texts of denialism. The social conservative agenda and the politics of AIDS denial, from the courts to the White House. The impact of HIV misinformation on public health in South Africa. Fighting fiction with reality: anti-denialism and the scientific community. For anyone affected by, interested in, or working with researchers in HIV/AIDS, and public health professionals in general, the insight and vision of Denying AIDS will inspire outrage, discussion, and ultimately action. See http://denyingaids.blogspot.com/ for more information.

Written by Seth C. Kalichman, editor of AIDS and Behavior, a Clinical-Community Psychologist and a Professor of Social Psychology at the University of Connecticut All royalties will support the purchase of antiretroviral medications for people living with HIV/AIDS in Africa: http://www.shallwego.net/ftf/index.htm. Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Auteur
Seth C. Kalichman is a Professor at the University of Connecticut. He has previously edited the volume, Positive Prevention: Reducing HIV Transmission among People Living with HIV/AIDS, also published by Springer.

Texte du rabat

Denying AIDS: Denialism, Pseudoscience, and Human Tragedy

Seth C. Kalichman, Storrs, University of Connecticut

Paralleling the discovery of HIV and the rise of the AIDS pandemic, a flock of naysayers has dedicated itself to replacing genuine knowledge with destructive misinformationand spreading from the fringe to the mainstream media and the think tank. Now, from the editor of the journal AIDS and Behavior, comes a bold exposé of the scientific and sociopolitical forces involved in this toxic evasion. Denying AIDS traces the origins of AIDS dissidents' disclaimers during the earliest days of the epidemic and delves into the psychology and politics of the current denial movement in its various incarnations.

Seth Kalichman focuses not on the "difficult" or doubting patient, but on organized, widespread forms of denial (including the idea that HIV itself is a myth and HIV treatments are poison) and the junk science, faulty logic, conspiracytheories, and larger forces of homophobia and racism that fuel them. The malignant results of AIDS denial can be seen in those individuals who refuse to be tested, ignore their diagnoses, or reject the treatments that could save their lives. Instead of ignoring these currents, asserts Kalichman, science has a duty to counter them.

Among the topics covered:

• Why AIDS denialism endures, and why science must understand it.

• Pioneer virus researcher Peter Duesberg's role in AIDS denialism.

• Flawed immunological, virological, and pharmacological pseudoscience studies that are central to texts of denialism.

• The social conservative agenda and the politics of AIDS denial, from the courts to the White House.

• The impact of HIV misinformation on public health in South Africa.

• Fighting fiction with reality: anti-denialism and the scientific community.

For anyone affected by, interested in, or working with HIV/AIDS, and public health professionals in general, the insight and vision of Denying AIDS will inspire outrage, discussion, and ultimately action.

Contenu
HIV/AIDS Denialism Is Alive and Well.- Peter Duesberg and the Origins of HIV/AIDS Denialism.- AIDS Pseudoscience.- Denialist Journalism and Conspiracy Theories.- Politics of Denialism.- Getting Out of Denial.