Episode 4: Update: Andrew Stimpson: The man "cured" of HIV?
This page from avert.org has an excellent timeline and summary of this story as it developed through November.
As one of our listeners pointed out (Thanks Clare!), we reported in episode 4 that his original HIV test may not have been confirmed; but this report (which I consider credible) says that it was.
Nevertheless, the conclusions of experts are still the same: It is much more likely that something weird happened with his tests than that he was cured of HIV. For example, the initial antibody test could have picked up antibodies from virus that was transiently in his blood but did not go on to infect him.
As one of our listeners pointed out (Thanks Clare!), we reported in episode 4 that his original HIV test may not have been confirmed; but this report (which I consider credible) says that it was.
Nevertheless, the conclusions of experts are still the same: It is much more likely that something weird happened with his tests than that he was cured of HIV. For example, the initial antibody test could have picked up antibodies from virus that was transiently in his blood but did not go on to infect him.
7 Comments:
I THINK THE BOY WAS FULL OF SHIT AND SHOULD BE JAILED FOR CREATING SUCH A FARCE. ALSO I BELIEVE HIS MOTIVE WAS MONEY AS HE HAD AN AGENT ACTING ON HIS BEHALF AND HE HAD TRIED TO SUE THE HOSPITAL A YEAR BEFORE. HIV IS NOT TAKEN LIGHTLY IN ANY COMMUNITY AND TO RAISE FALSE HOPES FOR THE WORLD HIV POPULATION IS A CRIME.ANDREW STIMPSON SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF HIMSELF. THANK GOD HE IS NOT MY FAMILY.
By Anonymous, at 2:11 PM
what happened to andrew stimpson? why has he disapeared? why would the gov snatch him unless he would upset the balance of power for the west by being the cure . why no moreupdates?
By Anonymous, at 2:45 AM
An update was just recently published here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,1789575,00.html
It sounds like he is still undergoing tests.
By Mignon, at 9:07 AM
Hey ALL CAPS GUY - why is Andrew Stimpson full of shit? If you take the time to read the articles, several independent sources state that the case is inconclusive and worthy of further study. Do you believe he purposely infected himself with HIV for money or bribed the clinic to mess up the results? Get real, this poor guy was told he had HIV and is probably more sensitive to how that makes a person feel than any of us that remain uninfected. Since he is gay and believed he was or is infected, it would be shocking if he was anything but supportive of the AIDS and HIV population. Besides, even if he turns out to be a slimeball - Viruses, in general, have plagued mankind for too long… anything that brings attention, energy, and money to work for a cure - should be viewed as more positive then negative. Many mysteries in biology remain. Read up on extremophiles (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extremophile) and astrobiology before forming strong opinions about what is possible and not possible when it comes to the adaptation, resistance, and variation of unfathomable number of species that continue to be discovered in the craziest of places.
By Anonymous, at 2:08 PM
yes he is undergoing tests still to this day!! he wasnt telling lies!! he just mearly told what he was told!! he was told at first he had hiv then he was told he did not have it. end of story!! so how did he make anything up?? learn ur facts first b4 u start making accusations!! and he tried suing them because they said he had hiv so he had unprotected sex with his partner from that day on believing he had nothing to lose then he was told he never had it. at first he thought it was a botched test! thats y he was gonna sue them, because he had unprotected sex with an hiv positive partner because he thought he had it anyway. thats a major gamble!!! cos as u said HIV should NOT be taken LIGHTLY!!! so dont call him a lier!!! i know all this because im his brother!!! so please get ur facts right and dont spread malicious rumours!!! im proud hes in my family! he never demanded any money! he was appointed an agent because it was a delicate issue. any how did he raise false hopes???? there was no seggustion he held the key to a cure EVER!!! he had it then he never so tests had to be done to see IF he could HELP to get a cure. he didnt have to go for tests did he??????!!!!!! but he did!!! cos he wants to help, IF HE CAN!!! it might be that no ammount of tests on my brother will help anyone else but its another lead for scientist to examine. AND DONT U DARE EVER SAY WE TAKE HIV LIGHTLY U STUPID PIECE OF $%*& MY UNCLE DIED OF THE DIESEASE! SO U BETTER HAVE MORE RESPECT FOR MY FAMILY!!!!! peace out martin.
By MARTIN THOMPSON, at 3:45 PM
just wanna say 1 thing now that ive said my piece. for all u out there. ask this 1 question! "if u slept with a HIV POSITIVE man for nearly 2yrs unprotected, how long do u think it would be b4 u were made HIV positive???" do u think after 2 yrs u would still be HIV NEGATIVE??? NOOOO CHANCE!!!
By MARTIN THOMPSON, at 3:57 PM
I actually find Martin Thompson's last comment quite staggeringly ignorant.
As a result of a clerical error, I recieved a false negative test result in 1993 and from then on had regular unprotected sex with my partner until September 2006 .. when a routine sexual health check-up revealed the error and confirmed my HIV-positive status.
My partner remains negative (and was most recently confirmed negative as recently as last week). So much for "NO CHANCE".
The apparent willingness with which some people spurt the most staggeringly ignorant crap quite simply beggars belief.
By Anonymous, at 5:29 AM
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