Discrimination against AIDS victims is as good as stigmatization of everyone with a disease. As medical students, we are already falling into the trap of medicalizing people. I may not be the best person to say this but defining a person by his/her disease is in NO WAY going to help that patient.

It has been 20 years since AIDS was discovered and why are we still ‘afraid’ of it? Would you shun someone with HIV like the plague? Or would you give counselling and responsible treatment to this patient?

Avoiding the AIDS topic decreases awareness and this decreased awareness will result in the proliferation of the disease.

Being responsible for your actions sometimes isn’t good enough Jeff. Some people are born with the disease. Some people catch it even through monogamous, faithful relationships. Who are we to ‘blame’ them?

I, personally, love the idea of a continuous battle against the microbial enemy. But a killer disease like this must be battled on more fronts than the physician. It must be confronted by every social member – stopping stigmatization is the first, and most important, step.

cheers,
Josh

There was an article on this dude who has contracted AIDS, confided in a colleague, and this colleague told everyone in the office. He faced much discrimination as people avoided him and stuff. What did he do? He seeked permission from his superior, and conducted a teaching session to educate his colleagues on AIDS, and how it would not spread to them just cos they share food or water with him. It helped TREMENDOUSLY.

So, AIDS sufferers should just stop wallowing in self-pity and complain about pple who discriminate against them. Sometimes the world is harsh but that is NOT your excuse to bow down.

You can only get hurt as much as you want to be hurt.

- Jeff, playing mean.

Very hopefuly Joshua. But this is still more than a decade away.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/12/01/eveningnews/main2222879.shtml

Take it from the richest couple in the world, for they fund the most money to AIDS research.
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Couric: I know that much of the funding for the foundation goes to develop a vaccine to prevent the spread of HIV. How close are we to developing such a vaccine?

Gates: Unfortunately, on the front of the vaccine, it is the ultimate solution, but it’s over a decade away, which is why we think (it’s) all the more reason that today, we really also need to focus on prevention — making sure people understand what is available to them today to stop spreading the disease.