November 19, 2009 | Health Matters

HIV denialists get a film

Producer and director Brent Leung has created a film that HIV specialists and many activists are calling misleading and dangerous. 'House of Numbers' claims that HIV is not the cause of AIDS. The controversial documentary / opinion piece cites scientists and everyday citizens who claims AIDS symptoms are actually a result of medication, and the disease itself can be cured through lifestyle choices.

The film documented one woman, Christine Maggiore, who said that she was healthy even though she did not rely on any meds. The film, however, does not disclose that Maggiore died of pneumonia until after the credits at the end of the film; it also failed to reveal that Maggiore's daughter, also HIV-positive, died from AIDS and pneumonia.

Eighteen of the doctors interviewed for the film have already released a joint statement saying they were "deceived" about the documentary and that it "perpetuates pseudo-science and myths. [The film] presents the AIDS denialist agenda as being a legitimate scientific perspective on HIV/AIDS, when it is no such thing."

Leung lashed out against detractors: "Yes, certain individuals are making accusations against me, but until this past weekend, none would come forward and identify themselves. The notion that I took people out of context comes from a letter which did not include signatures for any of the authors, and only made wide-sweeping generalisations, none of which addressed specifics in the film. I truly believe that making serious claims such as the ones in the letter must be backed up with specific examples or evidence in order to hold any water.

The film supports a movement called AIDS denialism. Adherents argue that HIV is made up or is just a harmless virus; that it is actually the therapies for HIV infection that cause AIDS; and that HIV was created by the US government to kill undesirables. Conspiracy theorists rejoice!

A professor of epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Richard Hayes said: "The position of the AIDS denialist movement has been wholly discredited. There has never been more than a small number of scientists who took this view, and there are now virtually none. There is overwhelming scientific evidence for HIV as the underlying cause of AIDS."

Next up from Brent Leung: "Climate Change? What Climate Change?"

Exclusive: HIV film 'dangerous and misleading' [PinkNews]