# AIDS cure **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 10, 2000, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aids-cure/17240 "2000-01-10T07:27:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Krispy\_Original](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ec9cab/32.png) [@Krispy\_Original](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krispy_Original)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aids-cure/17240/1 "2000-01-10T07:27:00Z")
Although the source is somewhat questionable, I’ve read of an apparent cure for AIDS developed by Dr. Gary R. Davis, M.D. of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dr. Davis developed a goat serum that has not yet been approved for clinical trial by the FDA. Although unapproved, the mother of a young AIDS stole a vial of serum from the office of Dr. Davis and administered the serum to her daughter, resulting in a drop in her viral-load from 186,119 to ZERO. Here’s the story: [www3.50megs.com/medical/aids/aidscure.html](http://www3.50megs.com/medical/aids/aidscure.html) True, maybe the young patient’s miraculous healing might have been due to reasons other than the serum, but since the serum was her only treatment this at least deserves a closer look and certainly an approved clinical trial. Come on FDA! Pull yourselves out of the asses of the large drug companies and show that you are truly dedicated to finding a cure for this horrible affliction! * * * Krispy Original – voted SDMB’s 19th most popular poster (1999) ---
**Author:** ![Spiritus\_Mundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Spiritus\_Mundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiritus_Mundi)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aids-cure/17240/2 "2000-01-10T07:37:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Although the source is somewhat questionable I think that says it all. * * * - The best lack all conviction The worst are full of passionate intensity. \* ---
**Author:** ![Krispy\_Original](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ec9cab/32.png) [@Krispy\_Original](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krispy_Original)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aids-cure/17240/3 "2000-01-10T07:45:00Z")
> [@](#): > > I think that says it all. ## It doesn’t take much in the way of thinking to make a comment like that… Krispy Original – voted SDMB’s 19th most popular poster (1999) ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aids-cure/17240/4 "2000-01-10T07:53:00Z")
This cyber cul-de-sac has no links to anywhere, no references, and I can’t find squat about it anywhere else. Just how did you hear about it? ## **\

Tris\** We learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it than we do from learning the answer itself. – \*\*Lloyd Alexander \*\* ---

**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aids-cure/17240/5 "2000-01-10T15:02:00Z")
Space aliens told him. ---
**Author:** ![Spiritus\_Mundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Spiritus\_Mundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiritus_Mundi)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aids-cure/17240/6 "2000-01-10T16:02:00Z")
> [@](#): > > It doesn’t take much in the way of thinking to make a comment like that… Answering you usually doesn’t. * * * - The best lack all conviction The worst are full of passionate intensity. \* ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aids-cure/17240/7 "2000-01-10T16:08:00Z")
I think the woman should have her child checked out by a physician, wait a couple months to see if there are side effects/relapses, and if not, the doctor should start asking for volunteers, as well as publish in a medical journal. If it works, it works; if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. * * * “It’s my considered opinion you’re all a bunch of sissies!”–Paul’s Grandfather ---
**Author:** ![Krispy\_Original](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ec9cab/32.png) [@Krispy\_Original](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krispy_Original)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aids-cure/17240/8 "2000-01-10T16:22:00Z")
Phil, I agree: > [@](#): > > Precious is still being monitored by her doctors at NIH, Dr. Predita Taylor and Dr. Anthony Falchia. In fact NIH has run viral load tests on her twelve times since March 23, 1998. The last six tests have shown undetectable levels of the virus in Precious. Surprisingly, or not, depending upon your view, these doctors, charged with the care of many AIDS infected patients and knowing now that Precious has been cured, have yet to call Dr. Davis to find out more about his treatment. > > The reality is the National Institute of Health felt vilified by the usurpation of their protocol by Mrs. Thomas. Prior to learning the girl was treated with Dr. Davis’ serum, Dr. Perdita Taylor had just taken credit for the cure of Precious Thomas. When told the truth she shriveled into a “no comment” posture. and: > [@](#): > > The FDA, instead of offering to help expedite Dr. Davis’ application, has continually stalled the process. As many questions as this may raise, one demands our immediate attention. Why is the brilliant work of an African American General Practitioner being suppressed Phil, Thanks for a thoughtful response. David, Spiritus Mundi, Par for the course… * * * Krispy Original – voted SDMB’s 19th most popular poster (1999) ---
**Author:** ![Delta-9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3be4f8/32.png) [@Delta-9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delta-9)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aids-cure/17240/9 "2000-01-10T16:35:00Z")
Har har, David. Go moderate or something. Sheesh. * * * The odds that the bread will fall butter side down are directly proportional to the cost of the carpet. ---
**Author:** ![Krispy\_Original](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ec9cab/32.png) [@Krispy\_Original](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krispy_Original)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aids-cure/17240/10 "2000-01-10T16:38:00Z")
Tris, It says that the article first ran in the Greenwich Village Gazette nearly two years ago and then says: > [@](#): > > Mr. McGraw brought it to our attention. After the Gazette published it here in New York, it was picked up by Fox, ABC and PBS. In fact, Little Precious was a guest at the White House and was a guest at the National Convention Of the NAACP in November 1999. So far, that’s all I have. I haven’t yet been able to find anything else on it, but I’ll keep looking… * * * Krispy Original – voted SDMB’s 19th most popular poster (1999) ---
**Author:** ![Erik\_Raven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Erik\_Raven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erik_Raven)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aids-cure/17240/11 "2000-01-10T16:51:00Z")
Ya know, if the kid is being treated by NIH, doesn’t it seem quite likely she is on the AIDS cocktail? To my understanding, that can reduce the viral loads to undetectable levels and not constitute a cure, regardless of whatever goat-related serums may have been injected into the patient. ---
**Author:** ![Krispy\_Original](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ec9cab/32.png) [@Krispy\_Original](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krispy_Original)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aids-cure/17240/12 "2000-01-10T16:56:00Z")
Erik, Check out the article I provided with the link…it claims that her mother took her off of the NIH protocol… * * * Krispy Original – voted SDMB’s 19th most popular poster (1999) ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aids-cure/17240/13 "2000-01-10T17:23:00Z")
I’m with Phil, with an emphasis on the publication part. I know you have you own opinions on scientific publication, KO. If someone’s got a good idea that doesn’t fit into the mainstream (cold fusion, mind control techniques, bogons, whatever), there is a chance he’ll be shot down for being a troublemaker, right? At least that’s the line of many “alternative science” apologists. But I like to have a little more faith in the medical community. As Phil said, if it works, it works–there’s not much room for equivocation in medicine, especially in disease control. (Long term side effects notwithstanding. Yes, I remember thalidomide.) Now, there may very well be a grand plot to keep a cure for AIDS from being released, but that’s another debate. If this guy’s got a cure (which, IMO, he doesn’t), he needs to run clinical trials and publish. But ya know what really gets me? **Her name is _Precious_, fa chrissakes.** I mean, that’s even worse than Dakotah and Kayleigh . . . -andros- ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aids-cure/17240/14 "2000-01-10T17:42:00Z")
Krispy, You mention > [@](#): > > It says that the article first ran in the Greenwich Village Gazette ## But what I asked was **\

Tris\** > [@](#): > > Just how did you hear about it? If you would be a real seeker after truth, you must at least once in your life doubt, as far as possible, all things. – \*\*René Descartes, \*\* (1596-1650) ---

**Author:** ![Krispy\_Original](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ec9cab/32.png) [@Krispy\_Original](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krispy_Original)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2000, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aids-cure/17240/15 "2000-01-11T06:14:00Z")
Tris, Sorry for failing to answer your question…the answer is: [www.rense.com](http://www.rense.com) Andros, You wrote: > [@](#): > > If this guy’s got a cure (which, IMO, he doesn’t), he needs to run clinical trials and publish. From what I gather he’d love to do just that, however, the article tells us: > [@](#): > > Davis developed his treatment three years ago. Two years ago, Dr. Davis applied for FDA approval to administer a clinical trial using his treatment. The application for clinical trial was approved initially, only to be revoked hours prior to its beginning. * * * Krispy Original – voted SDMB’s 19th most popular poster (1999) ---
**Author:** ![SuperNerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@SuperNerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuperNerd)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2000, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aids-cure/17240/16 "2000-01-11T06:17:00Z")
Two odd things in the second article: > [@](#): > > … Canadian personal use law, which allows Canadian citizens to purchase, for their own personal use, a three month supply of any non-approved drugs or biologics Huh? I’m Canadian and have never heard of this. Can anyone confirm or deny this? And > [@](#): > > Precious is not allowed to continue the medication that had brought her Viral Count Load down to ZERO and kept it there for three months. She cannot take it because there is no money in this for the large Drug Companies. **Precious does have a viral load back again, though small.** (Emphasis mine) Doesn’t this imply that it’s not a ‘cure’ but just a new treatment? ---
**Author:** ![Krispy\_Original](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ec9cab/32.png) [@Krispy\_Original](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krispy_Original)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2000, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aids-cure/17240/17 "2000-01-11T06:34:00Z")
Super, I wondered about that second part too…but then I read that the amount of the stolen serum that the mother was giving the girl was a fraction of the dosage that the doctor would have given her…also…with drugs like penicillin (sp?), the full curative effect takes a dosage of a particular length, although a lessor dosage does tend to start to relieve symptoms…right? * * * Krispy Original – voted SDMB’s 19th most popular poster (1999) ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aids-cure/17240/18 "2000-01-10T19:06:00Z")
One main problem here is that just because HIV may have undetectable levels in the blood does not mean it has been cured. HIV hides – in the lymph nodes, the brain, etc., and, as I understand it, not show up in blood tests. The other problem is that we don’t know the whole history of this girl. Again, as I understand it, the viral load gets high after the initial infection and can them plummet as it goes into the second stage of the disease, only to come back again much later. ---
**Author:** ![Robbnn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@Robbnn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robbnn)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aids-cure/17240/19 "2000-01-10T20:19:00Z")
Are we seriously believing that a real AIDs cure would be blocked by the FDA? Or am I just naive? ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2000, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aids-cure/17240/20 "2000-01-10T20:21:00Z")
No, most of us here are not seriously believing that. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aids-cure/17240.md?page=2)