NEW Source, Issue 6, February 1992 Page: 2
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2 NEWS urce
February 1992
Someone named Robert M. Wachter, M.D. has written an article called "AIDS, Activism, and the
Politics of Health", and it appears in a recent edition of the New England Journal of Medicine (January 9,
1992; pp 128-132). Dr. Wachter (yes, 'doctor' rhymes with Wachter) argues, among other things, that the
AIDS Coalition 7bT Unleash Pbower (ACT-UP) should be reprimanded for their fiery disruption of local and
international AIDS conferences. He says, basically, that PWAs wouldn't have a leg to stand on if it hadn't
been for the progress of the Gay Rights Movement in the 1970s. And furthermore, quoth Wachter, some
(he neglects to document names and contexts) "criticized the level of AIDS funding as being too generous."
Whoa, Wachterl That kind of talk makes me think that you're head is in the sand, Doctor
Wachter. In fact, they don't seem like the writings of someone who has sworn the Hippocratic oath, Dr.
Wachter. They are more like those of a concoct-er. Perhaps you're being influenced by some other factor,
Dr. Wachter. Whatever the case, your words have inspired me to comment.Ron's
Room
needed for AIDS education
necessary in the other diseI quote, "For example, federal spending for AIDS was $1.6 billion in
1990, a year after 40,000 Americans died of the disease. During the same
year, federal spending for cancer, a disease that killed 500,000 in 1989,
was $1.5 billion, and spending for heart disease, which killed 750,000,
was less than $1 billion." Point well taken, Dr. Wachter. The numbers
don't lie. But, lest we forget, AIDS is an infectious disorder, and education
is a big part of halting an epidemic like this. Although things can be done
to lessen one's chances of being afflicted with them, cancer and heart
disease quite often are genetic disorders and aren't saddled with a social
stigma; thus the pamphlets, books, and various spending programs
(not to mention the research of this most complex and sneaky virus) are not as
cases.And as for the whole issue of the activists' conduct at the conferences: The medical community
needs to know that they're not bluffing. People are tired of being sick, and they're tired of friends and rel-
atives dying before their time. ACT-UP, in particular, is dedicated to letting medical professionals and oth-
ers know just how devastating the disease is and how urgent the situation. Banning them from the con-
ferences, I'm afraid, would do anything but quiet them down. Even Dr. Wachter knows that "many mem-
bers of ACT-UP have embraced the theme of Malcolm X: 'By any means necessary."'
So, as always, I think the best remedy is communication. If ACT UP and other AIDS organizations
could meet regularly with legislators, doctors, researchers, and others, there would be no question of what
they were feeling -- physically and psychologically. The scientists would learn that the one thing more im-
portant than the damned virus is the breathing human being who's carrying it. The PWAs would know
about any and all progress being made on their behalf, and they wouldn't feel trapped and isolated and
abandoned. Efforts toward separatism, such as Dr. Wachter's article, are causing more anger, and thus,
more demonstrations and violence. A little understanding would certainly go a long way.
Best of health --
Ronald D. Woodroof
Founder
NEWSource is a monthly pubtion of The DaLas Buyer's Cub, a nonprofit organization located at 3102 Swiss Avenue, Dalas, Texas 75204. Phone
214/82.74556, Fax 214/826.5242.
The information provided herein is intended to supplement the memnbs awareness of aemative protocols being practied by felow DBC members and
is not intended to substitute for the advice and recommendations of alicensed, praying physicia
All contents copyrighted (c) 1992 The PWA Health Group of Texas, I "
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Dallas Buyer's Club. NEW Source, Issue 6, February 1992, periodical, February 1992; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc271477/m1/2/: accessed June 2, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.