This newswire story is the inspiration for my latest idea:

<< HIV Therapy Changes Death Demographics

FRIDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDayNews) -- People who catch the AIDS virus by
using tainted drug needles are four times as likely to die over the
next decade as those who acquire the infection through sex.

The difference is one of several changes in the demographics of AIDS
deaths that have occurred since the introduction of drugs collectively
known as highly active antiretroviral therapy, or HAART. Before the
arrival of the regimen in late 1996, about half of people with HIV,
which causes AIDS, died within 10 years of being diagnosed with the
infection. Thanks to HAART, roughly 90 percent of people with HIV now
can expect to live at least 10 years with the virus.

HAART "is fantastic. It has increased [survival] significantly," says
research leader Kholoud Porter, an epidemiologist specializing in AIDS
at the MRC Clinical Trials Unit, in London.

There's nothing unique about the nature of HIV in drug users, Porter
says, so their poorer prognosis likely reflects two factors: piggyback
infection with other deadly viruses, such as hepatitis C, and spotty
adherence to HAART. The second theory is supported by evidence that
even while on HAART drug users in the new study typically had much
higher levels of HIV in their blood than men and women who acquired
the virus through sexual contact. "More of their time on HAART was
spent that way," Porter says. "That could point to adherence issues."

[...deleted rest of article...] >>


The solution to this is so very simple, it a wonder no one has thought
of it yet. All that is needed is to lace HAART with addicitive drugs
like heroin. No one will forget to take their medications on time
anymore as they will go into painful withdrawl symptoms as the
addictive drug additives wear off compelling them to dose again.

Yuck, Yuck, but I could see this coming from the Bushites if they were not
so rabidly anti-drug. They are going to list Canada as a drug exporting
nation mainly in retaliation for Canada's relaxation of it's pot laws.

Gary Stein

"Baby Peanut" <baby_p_nut2@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:96d83290.0310170932.4a5c3126@posting.google.c om...

On Fri, 17 Oct 2003 21:33:57 GMT, "Gary Stein" <ge.stein@verizon.net>
wrote:

Actually, unless there is an interaction between heroin and ARV, I
think this IS a good idea.

Why? Because it could offer:
1) access to quality heroin;
2) opportunity to kick the habit through dose reduction;
3) improved adherence as pointed out;
4) getting people off the street and into care.

It does sound crazy, but several programs suggest this CAN be a means
of helping people, rather than using methadone. It is a FURTHER
option, not a REPLACEMENT to addressing addiction. I think it could
work for a substantial number of drug users.

George M. Carter

from the "don't feed the hand that bites you" department

CHICAGO -- A doctor's proposal asking the American Medical Association to
endorse refusing care to attorneys involved in medical malpractice cases
drew an angry response from colleagues Sunday at the annual meeting of the
nation's largest physicians group.

Many doctors stood up to denounce the resolution in passionate speeches --
even after its sponsor, Dr. J. Chris Hawk, asked that it be withdrawn.

Hawk, a South Carolina surgeon, said he made the proposal to draw attention
to rising medical malpractice costs. The resolution asks that the AMA tell
doctors that -- except in emergencies -- it is not unethical to refuse care
to plaintiffs' attorneys and their spouses.

"It expresses the frustration I have with a broken system," said Hawk. He
said doctors are leaving his state or retiring early because of insurance
premiums -- making it harder for patients to receive care.

Neurologist Michael Williams said although he understood Hawk's frustration,
the resolution never should have been introduced because it seeks to
discriminate against a group of people.

The resolution left the AMA "a really big mess to clean up," Williams said.

For years, the AMA's top legislative lobbying priority has been the medical
malpractice system, and some delegates said the resolution could hurt those
efforts by giving trial lawyers ammunition.

AMA committees considered more than 250 reports and resolutions Sunday. The
committees will make recommendations to the group's delegates, who will
begin voting Monday afternoon on policies to adopt.

Last week, the daughter of a Mississippi legislator said she was denied
treatment by a plastic surgeon because her father opposes limits in damage suits
against doctors.