Investigating the origin of AIDS: some ethical dimensions
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Published on: October 31, 2010
1Science, Technology, and Society, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia. brian_martin@uow.edu.au
Abstract:
The theory that AIDS originated from contaminated polio vaccines raises a number of challenging issues with ethical dimensions. The Journal of Medical Ethics dealt with a submission about the theory a decade ago; subsequent developments have raised further issues. Four areas of contention are addressed: whether the theory should be investigated; whether anyone should be blamed; whether defamation actions are appropriate, and whether the scientific community has a responsibility to examine unorthodox theories.
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