A cure for AIDS?

[InsaneApache]

This man had AIDS, now he's cured...

link

If true, this could be the breakthrough.

[Major Robert Dump]

It would be funny if he said drinking his own pee cured him, and the news got to africa and they believed that one like they do everything else, then all of the sudden the whole country (well half the country) would start drinking their own pee and probably others people pee when that didn't work, there would be pee farms and pee bandits and pee militias

[Sjakihata]

It would be funny if he said drinking his own pee cured him, and the news got to africa and they believed that one like they do everything else, then all of the sudden the whole country (well half the country) would start drinking their own pee and probably others people pee when that didn't work, there would be pee farms and pee bandits and pee militias

lol insanely funny....

[doc_bean]

It would be funny if he said drinking his own pee cured him, and the news got to africa and they believed that one like they do everything else, then all of the sudden the whole country (well half the country) would start drinking their own pee and probably others people pee when that didn't work, there would be pee farms and pee bandits and pee militias

Well it would certainly be an improvement on raping virgins like they do now...

[solypsist]

just imagine all the charlatans selling fake pee because they'd save all the real pee for themselves.

It would be funny if he said drinking his own pee cured him, and the news got to africa and they believed that one like they do everything else, then all of the sudden the whole country (well half the country) would start drinking their own pee and probably others people pee when that didn't work, there would be pee farms and pee bandits and pee militias

[Kaiser of Arabia]

Scotsman Andrew Stimpson, 25 was diagnosed HIV-positive in 2002 but was found to be negative in October 2003.

I didn't know sheep could pass along AIDS.

[A.Saturnus]

The most likely explanation is that the first test he underwent was false positive.

[Soulforged]

The most likely explanation is that the first test he underwent was false positive.

Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust confirmed the tests were accurate but were unable to confirm Mr Stimpson's cure because he had declined to undergo further tests.

The article didn't say if he presented any kind of symptoms related to the AIDS.

[A.Saturnus]

The article didn't say if he presented any kind of symptoms related to the AIDS.

It said he didn´t use any medication. That the healthcare service claims that the tests were accurate isn´t quite proof. All tests have an error margin.

[Soulforged]

It said he didn´t use any medication. That the healthcare service claims that the tests were accurate isn´t quite proof. All tests have an error margin.

Yes I thought the same. I wanted to know if he had any symptoms related to AIDS, that way it will be a much heavier probability on the side of confirmation.

[bmolsson]

Well, the only thing to say here is: lucky him.....

AIDS is awful, don't want to have that again......

[LeftEyeNine]

Leaving aside the probability that his pee was magical and the tests went wrong, this incident reveals that AIDS viruses has something to do with certain genotypes that makes them vulnerable and curable.

[Ironside]

Leaving aside the probability that his pee was magical and the tests went wrong, this incident reveals that AIDS viruses has something to do with certain genotypes that makes them vulnerable and curable.

Well it is proved that certain genotypes protects agains't HIV, about 1% of the Europeian population is immune to HIV (two genomes of the mutant gene) and about 10% (IIRC) is more resistant to it (one genome harder to get sick, slower development of AIDS). It's more rare outside Europe though.

What could be interesting in this case is that it possibly doesn't require advanced genetical engineering (impossible to perform today) to cure HIV.
Although I suspect that something isn't 100% right in this case.

[LeftEyeNine]

Welcome to the age of gene injection then.. Science of genetics is quite open to anything longing from miracles to disasters..

[Ja'chyra]

Isn't he refusing further tests?

Something not right, I suspect a mistake has been made somewhere.

[LeftEyeNine]

Isn't he refusing further tests?

So he is still carrying HIV virus but wants to die famous ? Great job.

Now that's the best fake-fame I've ever seen and ever will it be - if it is..

[Ice]

The sad thing, he has declined to go in for further testing. He could hold the key to save millions of current and future lives. I'd drag his ass and force him to cooperate one way or another.

[Adrian II]

The sad thing, he has declined to go in for further testing. He could hold the key to save millions of current and future lives. I'd drag his ass and force him to cooperate one way or another.

Come on, Ghost908, that would be extremely rude and it would certainly violate that man's human and civil rights as well as his physical integrity.

So yeah, drag his ass!

[Papewaio]

If he has the key to curing AIDS then he should do the right thing and at least give a blood sample for a DNA test.

Millions of deaths vs one mans privacy?

If he doesn't want to then that is ultimately his choice. I think it was a false positive test until proven otherwise.

But I do wonder, if this person is not willing to contribute to his fellow man does society have any obligation to contribute to him?

[LeftEyeNine]

But I do wonder, if this person is not willing to contribute to his fellow man does society have any obligation to contribute to him?

I remembered the flames upon Muhammad Ali in another thread all of a sudden..

[Ice]

Come on, Ghost908, that would be extremely rude and it would certainly violate that man's human and civil rights as well as his physical integrity.

If could save millions of lives doing it? You bet I would.

[GoreBag]

I remember hearing about how some prostitutes in Africa are immune to AIDS. They lack a certain part of some cell which is necessary for the viral agents to spread...I don't really know all the details.

Yeah, my father's a biochemist.

This case seems like a hoax at worst and a mistake at best.

[ichi]

It would be funny if he said drinking his own pee cured him, and the news got to africa and they believed that one like they do everything else, then all of the sudden the whole country (well half the country) would start drinking their own pee and probably others people pee when that didn't work, there would be pee farms and pee bandits and pee militias

You still got it MRD, that's damn funny

[Adrian II]

If could save millions of lives doing it? You bet I would.

So would I! That's what I meant ^^.

[Ja'chyra]

It's a valid question though.

If he is in fact cured and further testing on him could save literally millions of lives should he be forced to submit to the testing?

If he is forced is it tantamount to torture?

But I do wonder, if this person is not willing to contribute to his fellow man does society have any obligation to contribute to him?

What do you mean? He could be a normal hard working man who pays his taxes and supports his family (granted he looks like a ned) if he wants to be left alone to get on with his life shouldn't he be allowed to?

What if the tests where painful? Would you subject yourself to them? Or what about your young child? All to save some people you will never know?

I don't think it's so black and white, personally I would let them have some blood and would at least talk to them about what other tests they wanted to do. But saying that he should be forced to to save others is a bit off, what if the testing required his death?

I think he should be encouraged to help but not forced.

[Byzantine Mercenary]

Its phesable that this man may have inherited immunity to aids, but to remove all trace of it?
There is still a lot about the human body that we do not yet know, but surely there must be some trace left behind by the virus even if it is destroyed.

[English assassin]

Interesting qu about forced testing. (On this being a "cure", I am pretty doubtful. He only ever tested positive for antibodies, not viral RNA, and while two false positives (or false negatives) are very unlikely my judgement is they are not as unlikely as removing HIV with vitamins. Incidentally did you know if you have one positive test for HIV it is still more likely than not that you don't have it? The small % of false positives in the large uninfected population outnumbers the true positives in the small infected population. But I digress.)

Its a real life take on the old challenge to utilitarianism , namely if you could make many people happy by making one person miserable, would you? In general my answer to that qu is no, the trouble with utilitarianism being that it fails to respect the individual sufficiently. Happiness can't be averaged.

Here, though, I am afraid my principles fail me and if I really thought this person did have the secret to a cure I would haul his arse labwards PDQ.

Fortunately through the wonders of capitalism this will not be necessary. If he did hold a cure a drug company would be willing to pay him millions to sit through some tests. If altruism won't get him self interest presumably will. I actually think that is an example of the western system working quite well.

[Reverend Joe]

There is also a possibility that his first test was wrong, and he is just nervous now.

[Adrian II]

It would be funny if he said drinking his own pee cured him, and the news got to africa and they believed that one like they do everything else, then all of the sudden the whole country (well half the country) would start drinking their own pee and probably others people pee when that didn't work, there would be pee farms and pee bandits and pee militias

Freddie Heineken already did that.

[Geoffrey S]

Heh. Running joke among those who drink real beer.

Edit: oh, on topic? Wait and see, and hope the guy submits for testing before more time is wasted.