Ms. Collins essentially dismisses my letter by attempting to make the point that I am speaking on behalf of the pharmaceutical industry. She states that: “my career and research is dependent upon major pharmaceutical dollars.” As with most of the rest of what Ms. Collins has written in her original article and in her response to my letter, this comment is factually inaccurate.
My laboratory’s research funding during the current financial year was derived from the following sources:
Lest it be thought that my own personal income is dependent upon the pharmaceutical industry; 94% of my earned income last year came from my salary from my employers— the Weill Medical College of Cornell University. The remaining 6% was derived from a variety of sources, for consulting or other professional services rendered. Not one red cent of that income came from a manufacturer of AIDS drugs. The readership of the magazine can draw its conclusions from such facts.
Both Ms. Maggiore and Ms. Collins state that I and other AIDS professionals refuse to “debate” them. This is one of the few accurate statements either of them makes. We refuse to debate them for reasons that are clearly laid out at www.aidstruth.org/answering-aids-denialists.php. Dr. Cotler notes that Ms. Maggiore and her friends are cranks by drawing analogies to the crazies who believe the moon landings were filmed in the USA. To extend his analogy: were I to propose that the moon was made of green cheese, would NASA scientists “debate” the point with me? I think not. The only relevant difference that applies to Ms. Maggiore is that her craziness is not harmless crankiness; it kills people, particularly young, innocent children who never grow up to make their own decisions. It’s in trying to protect these children that AIDS professionals like me stand up to Ms. Maggiore. Insults from the likes of her and Ms. Collins are water off the proverbial duck’s back.
– JOHN MOORE, PhD
