HIV/AIDS Prevention Program Coordinator - TheBody.com's Bulletin Boards

The author gave permission to publish this resignation letter.

----------
June 3, 1999
Robin Keene, SCHNS, Communicable Disease Supervisor
Manatee County Health Department

Dear Ms. Keene,
Please accept my resignation from employment with the Health Department,
effective two weeks from today, June 17, 1999.

After months of struggle and extensive research, I regret that I can no
longer fulfill the Public Health mandated requirements of this position in
good conscience. As you know, over the past year I have investigated
scientific material that calls into question the very foundations of the
Public Health response to AIDS. After careful consideration, I find that I
can no longer promote HIV/AIDS Education or HIV Testing as mandated by the
State of Florida, Department of Health. In addition, I cannot present AIDS
education according to Public Health mandates. In doing so, I would be
violating my own conscience, as those mandates acknowledge and promote only
one scientific opinion regarding the cause of AIDS.

Upon careful investigation, it is woefully apparent that a grand schism has
existed in AIDS research since Robert Gallo’s politically charged
announcement to the world that HIV is the probable cause of AIDS (1984).
Unfortunately, only one side of the scientific data has been made readily
available to the public. This side is far more powerful, backed by the
financial storehouses of federal government agencies like the CDC and the
NIH, who fund most public information campaigns and research programs. This
dominant science is promoted and even manipulated by pharmaceutical giants,
who have an obvious profit motive. The Public Health system and the
pharmaceutical companies are the main source of information regarding AIDS
for health care providers, and limit their information to one side of the
scientific debate, ignoring and even suppressing contrary scientific
research. Aided by a willing media, the Public Health Service has all but
silenced contrary scientific opinions and thus denied the people their
fundamental right to informed consent.

I hereby withdraw my participation from what may one day be seen as the
greatest violation of the principle of informed consent in the history of
Public Health.

Most sincerely,

Mark Pierpont
HIV/AIDS Prevention Program Coordinator

Post Extras: Remind Me!