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Something Thing To Think About

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Something Thing To Think About

11.18.05 (9:45 pm) [edit]

It's 1am and I just opened a big tall can of Yoohoo Chocolate "Drink". I don't suppose it's milk, but it sure tastes good.

I was listening to a radio show this week and the host discussed a story out of Great Britain about a man who was diagnosed with HIV. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/he... The story goes on to explain that he went back to a health clinic a year and a half later and, after more tests, was told that he no longer had HIV. According to physicians the young man's body had "cured itself" of the virus. There have been anecdotes of such "miracles" in Africa but this is the first documented case to gain worldwide interest in the AIDS research community.
The man refuses to allow researchers to do further tests on him. This is the crux of my entry.

Lately there's been much ado about Eminent Domain issues in our country. The power of a local, state, or federal government to take over private property with the intent of using it for the good of the many. Can this also be the case for a human being? Say, for argument's sake, that this young man HAS indeed a unique DNA capable of eliminating the AIDS virus by its own means. And if he continues to refuse to allow any more tests that could possibly strike a blow to a disease so deadly and dreaded as AIDS, would the government be justified in forcing this man to allow tests? Could he be held without his permission for an unlimited amount of time?
Before you answer, make sure you ask yourself how you would react if you were that man. You have in your body a possible cure for the most feared and deadly disease mankind currently faces; a disease that threatens the lives of nearly 40 million people worldwide. Would you be able to withhold the possible promise of survival to 40 million people?

Is this a matter of private liberty and personal rights vs. the good of the many? In essence, "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few....or the one." Before I digress into more "Spockisms" I'll ask one more question before I turn it over to you and your opinions.
If a cure for AIDS is found through this man's DNA, would that have any impact of the actions of those people who contract HIV through sexual contact or drugs? Would it cause someone to think that, "since there's a cure I can do whatever I want and not have to worry about the consequences."?......hmmm...consequences...another can of worms perhaps for another day.

posted by: LND (reply)
post date: 11.20.05 (10:56 am)

I would give the health officials some of my blood so they can run tests on it. Isn't that all they need to look at his DNA?

posted by: riverrat338 (reply)
post date: 11.20.05 (4:04 pm)

yes, LND, that is all they are asking at this point. But he will not even allow that.

posted by: LadyG (reply)
post date: 11.20.05 (11:01 pm)

With all th mistakes made in medicine and testing today, its possible that he never had it in the first place.

posted by: LND (reply)
post date: 11.21.05 (8:08 am)

He is probably holding out for money.

posted by: riverrat338 (reply)
post date: 11.21.05 (3:43 pm)

ladyG: yes, I thought that at first. I believe he initially got a 2nd opinion and it was verified. However, could 2 independent tests be incorrect? Possibly.
But there still should be more tests, I think, just in case.

posted by: newbie (reply)
post date: 11.22.05 (5:48 am)

No comment on the medical stuff.. don't have the energy to get into that stuff.... but just to let you know, Yoohoo does have milk (sorta) it's made of cocoa, dry milk, and water lol there ya go Matt... some useless information.

posted by: riverrat338 (reply)
post date: 11.22.05 (2:30 pm)

newbie: Yes, it does have "milk" it's latent but it's there. But only 10% calcium. BUT very little fat!!!

posted by: TB (reply)
post date: 11.25.05 (8:23 am)

It's a very interesting topic. No I do not think the government has the right to demand that this man get tested nor do I think it is right for the man to refuse testing. It is a Catch 22. I think this man should do what is best for society at large. He probably is just scared that more testing will reveal that he still has HIV. "Ignorance is bliss". There are more consequences to using drugs and having unprotected sex or for that matter premartial sex than just HIV or Aids. And even with this huge epidemic of the Aids virus people still think they are invincible. When will we ever learn?

posted by: riverrat338 (reply)
post date: 11.27.05 (4:25 pm)

TB: WOULD the gov't NOT have a right to force him to agree to tests?

In the case of AIDS, I'd say no because it is not an epidemic that threatens our national security. But what if it were a much worse virus? One simply spread through the air?
Say, perhaps some kind of flu?

posted by: riverrat338 (reply)
post date: 11.27.05 (4:26 pm)

but it is bad enough already how careless people are ignoring consequences.
It's a good thing I have to work so much, otherwise I might be in more trouble. :op