Dear Dr. As always is nice to know that you keep helping people with that sensibility, optimism and kindness. If there were many Dr. Bobs around the world would be a much nicer place. Did you know that somebody with hiv cant get a visa to the USA??, yes to the land of the free..... What about someone caught with their vital meds in the customs area, when entering the USA, and as a consecuence of that, its sent back to his country, and his visa cancelled. Sounds like fiction?? its true. USA authorities makes hiv something like the pest in the middle age, "close the doors" let them die alone an far away. And for those living already in the USA forget about a green card. So my question is exactly about what is the land of the free??? Please share some humanism with authorities. Sorry for the english. Best wishes for you, and please stay very well, to many people need you. Sincerly Derek

Hello Derek,

Yes, this draconian policy has been in place for over a decade. It is discriminatory, not supported by rational, scientifically based public health policy, and is morally reprehensible. It's also the reason World AIDS Conferences are never held in the United States. A World AIDS Conference scheduled for Boston in the early nineties was moved to Amsterdam in protest of this very policy. Let's hope a regime change here in the U.S. in November will allow enlightenment and compassion to trump irrational fear and misguided politics on issues such as these.

Stay well Derek.

Dr. Bob