Peter Duesberg

[[File:Peter Duesberg at a cancer meeting in Berkeley in 2017.jpg|thumb|165px|Peter Duesberg at a cancer meeting in Berkeley, 2017]]
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'''Peter Duesberg''' {{lived|1936}} is a professor of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology at the University of California, Berkeley who has championed the idea that [[HIV denial|HIV is not the cause of AIDS]], and that recreational [[drug]] use is more to blame for the prevalence of AIDS amongst the [[homosexual]] community. He has also claimed that AIDS in [[Africa]] is largely misdiagnosed, and is not really AIDS but merely the accumulated effects of malnutrition and disease.

His claims have been repeatedly disproved and are contradicted by over 20 years of sound laboratory and clinical [[science]], in addition to also being utterly bizarre.

The reason for his obsession with HIV denialism is unclear, especially because he is an [http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=E6AE9A0B-E7F2-99DF-3C6C9B72962EE534&chanID=sa030 occasionally gifted scientist] whose talents have been distracted by this particular delusion.

In fact, this pattern of otherwise rational and distinguished scientists suddenly being overcome by AIDS-denialist irrationality has been noted on numerous other occasions.  There are some things the human mind may never understand, and this may be one of them. However, it appears to stem from personal [[Bigotry|dislikes]] of [[Racism|black]] and [[Homophobia|homosexual]] people more than anything else.

''Science'', the premier US science journal, devoted 3 months of investigation to "The Duesberg Phenomenon".<ref name=phenomenon>[http://www.sciencemag.org/site/feature/data/cohen/266-5191-1642a.pdf The Duesberg Phenomenon: A Berkeley virologist and his supporters continue to argue that HIV is not the cause of AIDS. A 3-month investigation by Science evaluates their claims] by Jon Cohen. ''Science'', vol. 266, 9 December 1994, pp. 1643-1644.</ref> The main conclusions of the investigation were:<ref name=phenomenon/>
{{cquote|
*In hemophiliacs (the group Duesberg acknowledges provides the best test case for the HIV hypothesis) there is abundant evidence that HIV causes disease and death (see p. 1645).<ref name=hemophilia>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7992044 Duesberg and critics agree: hemophilia is the best test] by Jon Cohen. ''Science'', vol. 266, 9 December 1994, pp. 1647.</ref>
*According to some AIDS researchers, HIV now fulfills the classic postulates of disease causation established by Robert Koch (see p. 1647).<ref name=hemophilia/><ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7992046 The epidemic in Thailand] by Jon Cohen. ''Science'', vol. 266, 9 December 1994, pp. 1645-1646.</ref>
*The AIDS epidemic in [[Thailand]], which Duesberg has cited as confirmation of his theories, seems instead to confirm the role of HIV (see p. 1647).
*AZT and illicit drugs, which Duesberg argues can cause AIDS, don't cause the immune deficiency characteristic of that disease (see p. 1648).<ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7992047 Could drugs, rather than a virus, be the cause of AIDS?] by Jon Cohen. ''Science'', vol. 266, 9 December 1994, pp. 1648-1649.</ref>
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==Article controversy==
In 2009, Duesberg attempted to publish an article in the at-the-time non-[[peer-reviewed]] journal ''Medical Hypotheses'', which was later withdrawn.<ref>[http://archive.is/bVR7 Pity poor Peter Duesberg; even ''Medical Hypotheses'' has dissed him] by Orac (September 15, 2009) ''Respectful Insolence'' (archived from 15 Jul 2012 04:42:47 UTC)</ref><ref>[http://science.sciencemag.org/content/327/5971/1316.long Elsevier to Editor: Change Controversial Journal or Resign] by Martin Enserink. ''Science'' 12 Mar 2010: Vol. 327, Issue 5971, pp. 1316. DOI: 10.1126/science.327.5971.1316.</ref> Later in 2011, Duesberg revised the paper and had it published in the ''Italian Journal of Anatomy and Embryology (IJAE)''<ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22303636 AIDS since 1984: no evidence for a new, viral epidemic--not even in Africa] by Duesberg, P. H. et al. ''Ital. J. Anat. Embryol.'' 116, 73–92 (2011).</ref> despite multiple problems in the paper.<ref>[http://www.nature.com/news/paper-denying-hiv-aids-link-secures-publication-1.9737 Paper denying HIV–AIDS link secures publication: Work by infamous AIDS contrarian passes peer review] by Zoë Corbyn (05 January 2012) ''Nature''. doi:10.1038/nature.2012.9737.</ref><ref>[http://archive.is/BNPjI#selection-1893.1-1893.46 Duesberg Strikes a blow for HIV/AIDS denialism] by Mark Hoofnagle (January 6, 2012 6:00 AM) ''denialism blog''.</ref><ref>[http://debunkingdenialism.com/2012/01/11/debunking-the-new-duesberg-hiv-aids-denialist-paper-in-ijae/ Debunking the new Duesberg HIV/AIDS Denialist “paper” in IJAE] by Emil Karlsson (January 11, 2012) ''Debunking Denialism''.</ref>

==See also==
* [[John Yiamouyiannis]], co-author of one of Peter Duesberg's books on AIDS
* [[Kary Mullis]], his Nobel prize winner pal

==External links==
*[http://mcb.berkeley.edu/faculty/bbs/duesbergp.html Faculty page]
*[http://www.aidstruth.org/denialism/review_inventingaids Review of ''Inventing the AIDS Virus'' at AIDS Truth]
*[http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/09/pity_poor_peter_duesberg_even_medical_hy.php Pity poor Peter Duesberg; even ''Medical Hypotheses'' has dissed him], [[Respectful Insolence]]
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==References==
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[[Category:California]]
[[Category:HIV/AIDS]]
[[Category:Homophobes]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Medicine]]
[[Category:Pseudoscience promoters]]
[[Category:Racists]]

Categories: California, HIV/AIDS, Homophobes, Living people, Medicine, Pseudoscience promoters, Racists