May 11, 2009

Journalist Files Libel Suit Against HIV Treatment Advocate

Journalist Celia Farber has filed a 21-page libel suit against Richard Jefferys of the HIV/AIDS research- and policy-focused Treatment Action Group, accusing him of orchestrating a campaign against her, the New York Post reports. Farber claims that Jefferys began attacking her last May when she won the Semmelweis Clean Hands Award for Outstanding Investigative Journalism for her 2006 Harper’s magazine article, “AIDS and the Corruption of Medical Science.”

In her article, Farber gave credence to noted AIDS denialist Peter Duesberg’s theory that HIV is a harmless “passenger” virus and not the cause of AIDS, questioning the efficacy of antiretroviral medicine. Jefferys and his team reportedly blasted the Semmelweis Society with e-mails accusing Farber of reshaping quotes and misrepresenting scientific documents.

According to the Post, the Semmelweis Society responded by launching its own investigation, concluding that the AIDS industry itself could be characterized as a corrupt business in need of whistleblowers. Despite the battle to annul Farber’s Semmelweis award, it remains in her possession.

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Previous Comments:

jack, , 2009-05-14 09:22:54
if HIV does not cause aids then what do the denialists think does?

Mark, New York, 2009-05-12 17:55:36
Journalists who report garbage should not receive awards for it. Jefferys is one of the most tireless and honest AIDS activists around, and all of us who care about the truth will rally to his defense. You won't fight this battle alone, Richard.

Henry, New York, 2009-05-12 16:37:12
You should note that the Semmelweis Society appears to have been established by a malpracticing physician unhappy at losing his license. Hardly a paragon of virtue.

nvhorseman, Reno, Nv., 2009-05-12 13:25:29
Folks are just going to have to get use to the controversy over the infection modality of HIV and the proof or lack of proof there of. Science is not exact and never will be as LIFE forms have an infinite capacity to change.My doctor who has HIV credentials up the ying yang, still believes HIV plays a crucial role in the disease process. He firmly believes that the scientific political community and Big Pharma has not told us the real truth of the origin of HIV but it is not the Duesberg theory.

Taylor, , 2009-05-12 08:50:45
Sadly this is a classic case of "and" plus "and." The AIDS industry is bloated and corrupted AND Celia Farber is ethically irresponsible and dead wrong.

gregory, palm springs, 2009-05-11 20:28:00
Thank you for reporting on this story. When journalists who report the truth are being attacked we risk losing all freedom. The Gay community should be in full support of the rights of journalists and show compassion and support for anyone who has been attacked by those who abuse their power. I commend the editors at POZ for reporting this story.