Dr. Julio Montaner and International AIDS Society Upbraided for Wasting Money
One of the best parts about observing people who are always accusing their philosophical opponents of playing politics, is that, more often than not, they are simply trying to deflect their own political agenda from scrutiny–by doing precisely that to which they object.
A great example of such an individual is Dr. Julio Montaner, of B.C.’s self-proclaimed ‘Center for Excellence’ in AIDS research. Dr. Montaner, a long-time advocate of such folly as Insite and drug-replacement drug replacement (you read that correctly–essentially drug swapping), has spent several years criticizing the Harper government for their principled position on Insite. As someone who worked on the Downtown Eastside for many years, I have seen much more than my fair share of friends and acquaintances spiral downward into a hell hole of despair and destruction. Insite might, in a some small part, keep the HIV rate down on the DTES, and that’s marvelous. But it enables drug users and is part of the Portland Hotel Society’s secret goal of drug legalization. Dr. Montaner, by his inadvisable comments, only perpetuates the chance that fools like the PHS’s overlord, Mark Townsend, might one day have a chance at making their nightmarish wishes a reality. And while I appreciate Dr. Montaner’s exceptional, ground-breaking work in extending the lives of AIDS suffers, his own political agenda couldn’t be any more clear: By adopting a find-a-cure-at-any-cost approach, he pursues the ever-admirable goal of eliminating AIDS, by supporting often loosely related initiatives that are pure harm seduction.
More to the point, Dr. Montaner is also the current President of the International AIDS Society.
Recently, he was upbraided by an American Senator who might know a thing or three hundred about HIV.
Meet Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn.
He’s a doctor.
The Washington Times recently reported that Sen. Coburn has penned a scathing letter to Dr. Montaner, highly critical of an upcoming AIDS conference to be held in Vienna.
Sen. Coburn insists that frivolous expenses should be scrapped, in fact, the money being spent on the entire event would be better spent on research and treatment–in particular.
“Considering that the cost to send the expected 25,000 attendees to the conference for a few days would be more than enough to keep as many families impacted by HIV healthy for an entire year?” (Sen. Tom Coburn, February 2010)
According to the good Senator, events like “museum tours and wine tasting” have no place at serious AIDS conferences considering the gravity of the cause.
Writes Dr. Coburn:
“While I recognize the International AIDS Conference can provide a unique forum for networking, reviewing scientific developments and sharing information for many stakeholders, modern technology allows us to accomplish these goals for relatively little cost…alternatives may not include the (scheduled) museum and castle tours, the visit to Mozart’s birth place, or wine tasting offered by the upcoming gathering in Vienna…” (Sen. Tom Coburn, February, 2010)
The objectionable conference is set for July 18-23, 2010 with an expected 25,000 participants–including almost 3,000 members of the international media.
Sen. Coburn was similarly critical of the 2008 AIDS Conference, which cost a whopping $25 million dollars that included many personal costs for some participants including lodging, meals and entertainment.
Why is this significant? Simple really. Dr. Montaner, in the spring of last year has the following to say to Global TV about the Harper government’s (principled and sensible) efforts to shut down Insite:
“Why would the Prime Minster and his Conservative government want to shut down a place that is helping so many? They continue an active sabotage. Think of the amount of money they are wasting when that money could be going to helping reduce AIDS. When I see this happening, I think there must be another agenda behind it” (Dr. Julio Montaner, April, 2009)
Can you pronounce “GLASS HOUSES!” at the top of your lungs Dr. Montaner? Because YOUR kind of hypocrisy screams it.
Typical of the way many of the povertarians and grief pimps operate, particularly in this province, unchecked by the mainstream press, because it gives dope smoking journalists–like one prominent Vancouver Sun legalization idiot, the opportunity to possibly give their private fancy some public legitimacy.
All the while, doctors like Julio Montaner deliver, in spades, the harm they are trying to reduce, by acting in such a counter-productive manner.
And a big ole ‘Sooner Salute’ to Senator Tom Coburn: Someone who obviously cares about those brave souls fighting HIV/AIDS and understands that treatment dollars must trump all else.
You can read Dr. Coburn’s letter to Dr. Montaner, here.
One might want to suggest to Dr. Montaner that he might want to set up and use the newest gadget in the Ministry of Health’s bag of goodies; tele-health.
If it’s good enough for cancer patients to use as a pseudo-appointment with their cancer specialist, in order to save money and the good doctor’s time – then it’s good enough for Dr. Montaner and this so-called “conference.” All it takes is a monitor, camera and microphone. Matter of fact, I’m sure our Health Ministry would be HAPPY to help him set it up! If our cancer specialists can save time and money using it – so can he.
But, I suspect this conference he’s so looking forward to is more about “museums and wine tasting,” than healing the sick and dying. At least, that’s how I see it.
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Your vision is 20/20! That’s the way I see it as well. But no on dares criticize him because he concocted this marvelous anti-retroviral cocktail that keeps AIDS suffers alive. Well, that’s wonderful. As someone who has lost very close friends to AIDS, I applaud this. But it shouldn’t give him a godamned blank cheque when it comes to the way he uses that accomplishment as foundation to bump for politically driven issues like Insite. Stick to your knitting. Go out and make a better cocktail that will keep suffers alive for ever–but his hypocrisy is thick and weepy. You’re right. Some of these guys become rock stars in their fields and it goes to their heads. Good to hear form you Leah. Always a pleasure.
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Senator Frist was a doctor too, and he felt that he could diagnose neuralogical conditions by video tape better than doctors on the scene. Perhaps you should look up what “conferences” or Jack (convicted felon) Abramoff sponsored golf tours etc. Mr. Coburn has enjoyed. As if Repuklican doctors are immune from using their M.D. degree to promote their political agenda………..
I thought at the least you were going to quote some admonishment from the UN anti-drug arm of the DEA and Nancy Reagan – it would be more credible than a ReThug doc from Oklahoma. Besides I’m banned, did I thank you for that yet Alex?
You’re really excellent at purple prose, Alex!
“Typical of the way many of the povertarians and grief pimps operate, particularly in this province, unchecked by the mainstream press, because it gives dope smoking journalists–like one prominent Vancouver Sun legalization idiot, the opportunity to possibly give their private fancy some public legitimacy”
Glad to see you are maintaining the level of discourse here and not being insulting – I know you won’t allow insulting comments here and are too chickenshit to publish this.
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Koot, I threatened to ban you from here if you didn’t tidy up your language (no more defamatory remarks) and straighten out your statements (no actionable statements about anybody). Telling me I’m an idiot is perfectly acceptable, if that’s how you feel. I was simply lamenting that you are unable to hold it together: One week you offer beautifully sensible thoughts, and the next, you’re calling Gordon Campbell a criminal–which is unproven and unacceptable.
As for your contentions about Dr. Coburn, if bullshit was capital and currency, you’d be a rich man just off your latest comment here. He is a stellar example of fiscal conservatism. A number of people attended events hosted or facilitated by Jack Abramoff, WELL BEFORE, anyone knew of his scurrilous ways. Conversely, Bill Clinton know Marc Rich was a scumbag and still consorted with him throughout the latter’s ride through the halls of govt in the 90s.
And I comment about the dope smoking journalist isn’t insulting it’s fact. He’s an idiot. Anyone one who writes columns making up that drugs are no worse than alcohol, is an idiot. It’s a statement of fact.
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At least Doc Julio is an actual MD, unlike media darlings as Professor Andrew Weaver, the UVIC climate-change zealot who is routinely introduced as “Dr. Weaver”–presumably to lend his utterances more weight. (Weaver has a PhD and not the medical sheepskin most assume when they hear someone described as a “doctor.”)
Regardless, both men are learned bullies who delight in trashing any government that doesn’t unreservadly embrace AIDS-treatment/drug-law relaxation (Montaner) or human-generated global warming (Weaver). Both, of course, expect all governments to funnel funding (with few strings attached) to advance research in their chosen notions.
As for that allegedly “dope-smoking” journalist. Yes, his hobby horse is evident for all to see. And his employer allows him to devote far too many inches of newsprint to pot legalization.
Still, he is one of the few local journalists, savvy enough about the inner workings of the justice system, who regularly exposes Crown Counsel attorneys whose laziness, bungling or thug-hugging approach to sentencing helps judges give wrist slaps to violent offenders and cruel fraudsters.
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Hi Rich: Yup, both of these docs are referred to by many peers as “movie stars”. I will eventually do a post where you will see that “peer-reviewed” can be altogether manipulated and you’d be amazed at how slanted some of the scholarship is…but the public only gets to see the end results. It’s too much to ask the MSM to do some heavy lifting a fairly access the methodology.
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If you are speaking about FACTS here’s one:
Marijuana in particualar is less harmful than Alcohol
There is no comparison between the alcohol related deaths due to:
Drinking and Driving
Booze fueled violence – domestic and otherwise
The effects of alcohol on the body – especially but not only the liver
I have personally watched MANY friends/neighbors die from liver failure due to alcohol abuse and though I have known myriad pot smokers over the years have NEVER known even one to die from marijuana abuse. And any links to lung disease and marijuana use are totally unproven, and indeed it may mitigate lung damage from tobacco use, though I know you and your friend with the agency to promote private medicine (Coastal Health) disagree with actual scientists from UCLA and Harvard on this point – and I do realize you know more than pretty much anyone.
Actually alcohol causes more deaths than even heroin, methedrine and cocaine combined MANY TIMES OVER! Guess what Alex, alcohol even caused deaths when it was illegal, indeed a whole new category of alcohol related deaths were prevalent due to unregulated production of toxic booze. There was a lot of violence associated with the distribution of liquor as well, kinda like Abbotsford today!
Prohibition doesn’t work, especially for essentially harmless substances like a naturally occurring (actually almost impossible to eradicate once established – as in the US plains where it was once grown for fiber) herb! All it does is criminalize otherwise harmless behaviour and waste limited law enforcement resources.
At least today when a person buys booze, he is probably getting actual grain alcohol and not something to make him die or go blind.
Keep telling yourself nobody realized Abramoff was a sleaze, tell that to the former congress critter fighter pilot from San Diego currently doing time. And hey, nothing that that Repuke lite Clinton does/did surprises me – though he certainly has more charm and intelligence than your average Repuklican.
No comment on the genius of Dr. Frist, eh? He was another doctor from what some folks call “fly-over” America – you know where they can’t send two girls to the bathroom in junior high or they will become lesbians – was that Dr. Coburn that was worried about that, or one of his colleagues?
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The great tragedy of your argument is that you are comparing apples and lily pads.
Marijuana and alcohol CANNOT be compared. Nor can their “results”. Alcohol, in moderation, is shown to actually have some health benefit. Marijuana consumption in similar amounts, on the other hand, increases your risk of cancer, creates an increased chance of schizophrenia in the young and is known to alter brain pathways on a permanent basis (it might explain some of your comments) The notion that you can even think of comparing accident rates is ludicrous. No one tests for marijuana (if they can at all). How would we know?
Your contention, too, that you’ve watched drunks die but never dopers, is terribly skewed. Addiction issues related to alcohol abuse are pervasive and obvious. Whereas, you might not know that any mental fog or lung cancer may have taken the life of a dope smoker.
The notion that marijuana is a harmless herb is idiotic. Legalization makes YOU, the taxpayer, the drug dealer, and the competition will only cause dealers (who will never retire) to create better dope than the govt. The people will always be one step behind.
As for Abramoff, I simply stated that it’s easy to cast doubt about a man whose life you are not entirely aware of. But the crap you offer is straight from Huffington Post speaking notes. You are a far-left leaning draft dodger that’s carved out an existence in the B.C. interior. That’s why you can’t reveal your real name. You’re opinions are almost entirely socialist and ridiculous. And yes, Frist was an excellent doctor who still works hard domestically and overseas mending blown off limbs of American and NATO GIs.
The accusations you cast are from the nutbar theocracy of the extremist left. It is no different, in the end, than the mindlessness from the extreme right. There is no argument one can have with someone like you that is not, at some point, interrupted by a brainfart that has cast innocent doctors as villains, simply because they are Republican.
Go away. You’re rhetoric and increasing lack of credibility are becoming tiresome and obvious.
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I suspect that there is no medical condition that has more money donated to their cause than does HIV/AIDS, (per capita) and it is not just because of the horrible nature of the disease (cancer isn’t pretty and it’s been around a lot longer) but because of the wealth and organizational abilities of those most afflicted. Most people are very willing to donate to the cause because they believe that through education and a better sense of responsibility, this is preventable. Also, many see it associated to other lethal and chronic diseases such as cancer, hepatitis and numerous other illnesses. Find a cure for this disease and you will likely open the door to innumerable others. That said, to suggest that the Conservative government has an “agenda” is absolutely unthinkable and shows a political bias that will turn off many of us who concern ourselves with the health of friends and neighbours.
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Exactly right.
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Hi Alex, with the technology available, there are no excuses for absurd conferences, by anyone (including bureaucrats) it is just an excuse for a holiday, usually paid by taxpayers.
Whenever I hear of an organization with a “Pompous Name” I always think of people who “Created Self Employment” and have to try to justify their existence.
I recall when the “Aids Scare” started the MSM did use to inflate figures, just like they did AGW, I never understood why Aids should be funded, many times over the funding of other diseases who kill FAR more people.
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Living in Strathcona I regularly see the results of drug abuse. The present policies, both of suppression and of mitigation, are an obvious abject failure. Humanity and common sense require us to take a pragmatic rather than moralistic approach. Here is an historical perspective, make of it what you will;
In the UK possession of opiates (typically Heroin) and Cocaine was made illegal in 1920, except when prescribed or supplied by doctors. The Rolleston Report of 1926 classified addiction as a disease and permitted continuing prescription to relieve its symptoms.
This remained the case until the ’60s, essentially GPs could prescribe Heroin to their patients at their own discretion without prosecution. It was known as the ‘British System’ and was a complete contrast to the policy of aggressive suppression adopted in America by the Federal Narcotics Agency which escalated to the provision of the death penalty for supplying to minors in 1956.
Heroin addiction in the USA reached some 50,000 by 1960, half a million by 1970 with all supply coming through criminal agencies and with massive property and violent crime consequences.
In the UK there were 94 registered heroin addicts in 1960. This number increased to 2240 in 1968 resulting in something of a public panic.
In that year GPs were deprived of their prescription rights and new addiction clinics were set up. Originally these continued the policy of prescribing Heroin for symptom relief and by 1979 the number of Heroin addicts was about 2,400. However during this decade the clinics moved over to Methadone substitution while the government embarked on an American model of drug trade suppression.
Today there are at least 340,000 Heroin users in the United Kingdom, probably many more as this figure is only based on those that have connected in some way with the medical or justice systems.
Res ipsa loquitur.
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Hi David: Great comment, although I’m uncertain as to whether all the conditions for Res ipsa loquitur have been met. In the law, there is a great diversity of opinion on the requisite circumstances for application. However, while I am sure the chronology you have offered provides some answers, my experience on the front lines of seeing drug addiction is that nothing but real treatment has ever proved anything other than effective–in addicts who really want to change. It isn’t a morality play to provide appropriate sentencing, prevention programs through education, and proper treatment. It’s very much the common sense we all seek.
I really appreciate your comment. It was thoughtful as much as thought-provoking. Always good to have you along.
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