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The Body: The Complete HIV/AIDS Resource
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Women Alive
AIDS Fraud: Don't Be Fooled!

Autumn 1995

Be suspicious of any claim that a product or treatment can cure or prevent AIDS or HIV. Question any product or treatment that:

  • is "guaranteed", "secret" or "underground"
  • is claimed to boost your immune system or is claimed to have a skyrocketing effect on your T-cells
  • requires or urges you to stop other prescribed treatments or medications
  • you're not supposed to talk about or tell your health care provider about
  • is an "experimental" drug that you have to pay for - experimental drugs are almost always free to patients in drug studies or clinical trials
  • uses personal success stories or testimonials to sell the product
  • is sold to cure cancer or other illnesses in addition to HIV/AIDS
  • was discovered or tested in "another country"
  • comes with misinformation about how you can get or prevent HIV/AIDS.

Questions To Ask

Is the product or treatment available from many sources? If not, why not?

What evidence do you have that the product or treatment works?

Can you give me printed material?

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Has the product or treatment been approved by the FDA?

What use was it approved for?

What training or experience in treating AIDS/HIV does the provider have?

Are there risks in using the product?

Fraud is Dangerous!

AIDS fraud is any false, misleading or unproved claim about the treatment or prevention of HIV/AIDS. Fraudulent products may harm you-they could even kill you. Your illness may get worse and you could waste a lot of money. Although there is no known cure for AIDS, there are legitimate treatments that extend & improve life for people living with HIV/AIDS.


Call 1-800-459-4503 for pamphlets.


This article was provided by Women Alive. It is a part of the publication Women Alive Newsletter.


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