I note during my time as a volunteer in an HIV buddy program while there was copious information on all kinds of quackery available (this was before they found actual drugs that actually worked) I didn't encounter too much of it while helping.
Additionally, in the early days, even well intentioned medical treatments that seemed 'logical and appropriate' could go horribly wrong. Radiation for Kaposi's sarcoma turned out to be a really bad idea, a chemical added to personal lubricants, nonoxynol (hope I got that right) did kill the AIDS virus in a petri dish, but when that same chemical was put in a human body it was an immunity suppressant.
Just learning how to administer a 'good' drug left a considerable body count. Pentamidine (?) administered as an IV did fight the PCP pneumonia, but not very well and had side effects. When the same drug was administered in a nebulizer directly into the lungs it worked fantastic. The nebulizer thing wasn't obvious though, somebody had to think of it, try it (more than once) and then in those pre-internet days, communicate the good news around the world. Meanwhile the body count was soaring.
I think where I'm headed here is, if something really works the evidence of success is compelling, for quack stuff, there seems to be some awareness generally it is gonna be a long shot. Additionally, most of the people I helped didn't have any money, and quacks eagerly avoid people in that category.
Also, there were some things advocated back then that were in the category of not doing any harm but probably not that big of a help either; quit smoking, taking vitamins, cut down on alcohol/recreational drugs, exercise, PMA, vegetarianism, etc.
Additionally, in the early days, even well intentioned medical treatments that seemed 'logical and appropriate' could go horribly wrong. Radiation for Kaposi's sarcoma turned out to be a really bad idea, a chemical added to personal lubricants, nonoxynol (hope I got that right) did kill the AIDS virus in a petri dish, but when that same chemical was put in a human body it was an immunity suppressant.
Just learning how to administer a 'good' drug left a considerable body count. Pentamidine (?) administered as an IV did fight the PCP pneumonia, but not very well and had side effects. When the same drug was administered in a nebulizer directly into the lungs it worked fantastic. The nebulizer thing wasn't obvious though, somebody had to think of it, try it (more than once) and then in those pre-internet days, communicate the good news around the world. Meanwhile the body count was soaring.
I think where I'm headed here is, if something really works the evidence of success is compelling, for quack stuff, there seems to be some awareness generally it is gonna be a long shot. Additionally, most of the people I helped didn't have any money, and quacks eagerly avoid people in that category.
Also, there were some things advocated back then that were in the category of not doing any harm but probably not that big of a help either; quit smoking, taking vitamins, cut down on alcohol/recreational drugs, exercise, PMA, vegetarianism, etc.
The granting of a pardon is an imputation of guilt, and the acceptance a confession of it.
