AIDS "Patient Zero" exonerated

Published

Specializes in med-surg, IMC, school nursing, NICU.

I thought this article was fascinating. It just shows how medical research is still evolving and we don't have all the answers, even to topics we thought we had figured out for years. How this man was demonized has always really struck me and made me sad. Just thought I would share.

'Patient Zero,' Gaetan Dugas, Exonerated By HIV Research : Shots - Health News : NPR

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care and ED.

That's fascinating. Thanks for posting it. I've always felt sorry for this guy. He got so much blame but he was just another victim of this cruel virus. I'm particularly interested in epidemiology so I really found this a great read.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I saw this and thought it very interesting as well! My microbiology instructor is an HIV/AIDS researcher, and he said a long time ago he thought that Dugas would eventually be cleared as patient zero. I find it interesting how a misinterpretation of "O" versus "0" spun the research into something that it wasn't.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med-surg, IMC, school nursing, NICU.
I find it interesting how a misinterpretation of "O" versus "0" spun the research into something that it wasn't.

Talk about a critical typo.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Talk about a critical typo.

No kidding!! :nailbiting:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med-surg, IMC, school nursing, NICU.

Mr. Dugas was such an easy scapegoat for the terror and panic that followed the AIDS crisis. People look for a target for their emotions when they are afraid. He was portrayed as this sociopath of a man who was intentionally spreading this mystery disease when he actually did everything he could to support the research and help fellow patients. Truly heartbreaking. I hope now that his "status" has been changed and made known to the world that he may find peace, wherever he is now.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It just goes to show - we can't believe everything we hear.

It's outrageous that this kind of stuff (misunderstandings, misinterpretations) can ruin lives and reputations.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Fascinating indeed, thank you for sharing!

In cases like these, I'm always astonished that it was possible for an individual's private health information to become widespread public knowledge. It reminds me a lot of the book 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,' which follows the life and death of the woman whose cervical cancer produced the germ line of HeLa cells used in medical research today (which is also an interesting read). Its hard to fathom in our HIPPA-entrenched society that we derive entertainment from the true stories of individuals' deeply personal medical histories.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion