AIDS Daily Summary May 23, 1994 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National AIDS Clearinghouse makes available the following information as a public service only. Providing this information does not constitute endorsement by the CDC, the CDC Clearinghouse, or any other organization. Reproduction of this text is encouraged; however, copies may not be sold, and the CDC Clearinghouse should be cited as the source of this information. Copyright 1994, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD "AIDS Marchers Hold Memorials in World Effort" USA Today (05/23/94) P. 1A; Fields, Gary Thousands of people worldwide marched on Sunday in remembrance of those lost to the AIDS epidemic, and to promote understanding of those who are living with the disease. Programs were held in 243 cities in 45 countries, and an estimated 100,000 people participated in the 11th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial and Mobilization, according to director Ben Carlson. Gregory Adams of the National Minority AIDS Council commented that, "We want to empower people to believe this epidemic will end." Saying that with AIDS patients previously surviving only six months, the disease was a "death threat," Adams noted that the life span is now much longer. Related Story: Washington Post (05/23) P. D5 "A Walk for Life and a Parade for Peace" New York Times (05/23/94) P. B3 The ninth annual AIDS Walk New York attracted 30,000 participants and raised more than $5 million yesterday, according to organizers. Participants trekked six miles, beginning and ending in Central Park. The event benefits the Gay Men's Health Crisis, the country's oldest AIDS service organization. "After the Shouting the Dancing Began" Washington Times (05/23/94) P. C4; Gelmi, Alexa Jim Graham, executive director of the Whitman-Walker Clinic, warned Saturday night that it was likely that someone would try to disrupt the largest AIDS benefit ever held in the nation's capital, and he was right. Almost immediately after Graham's prediction, gay-rights activist Luke Sissyfag stood up in the balcony at the Warner Theatre and shouted, "Clinton is doing nothing to stop AIDS!" before being escorted out by security. Minutes later, as Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala walked onstage to accept an award from Graham and D.C. Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly, another unidentified man interrupted. "We need an AIDS czar!" he yelled at Shalala. "You have done nothing! We are dying!" The disruptions were soon forgotten as the crowd viewed a dance performance by the legendary Mikhail Baryshnikov and his White Oak Dance Project. The benefit raised $600,000 for the clinic's Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center. "Murder? Or Ultimate Mercy?" USA Today (05/23/94) P. 8A; Castaneda, Carol J. Prompted by fear, excruciating pain, and rage, an increasing number of AIDS patients are imploring family and friends to help them commit suicide. Deliberate drug overdoses and plastic-bag suffocations occur quietly in the AIDS community. "When your quality of life becomes such that there is no quality ... it seems a reasonable choice," says Bruce Flannery of ActionAIDS. "We don't espouse or embrace the ideas of euthanasia. ... But it's happening. There is no question." Although the statistics are not official, Stephen Jamison of San Francisco's Hemlock Society, a right-to-die group, estimates that one in every four AIDS deaths are assisted suicides. Don Cox of Philadelphia's Hemlock Society says his office receives a call every other day from a dying AIDS patient. To avoid police detection, most assisted suicides are written off as natural causes, according to Fred Marcus, an oncologist in Redwood City, Calif., who supports the move to legalize the practice of assisted suicide. "These patients are going to die--comfortably in their own way, or in the torture, miserable way," he says. Right-to-life advocates, however, say assisted suicide is wrong, even for people with AIDS. "If assisted suicide becomes an accepted option, there will be all sorts of societal undertones pushing AIDS patients to kill themselves," asserts Ed Rivet of Right to Life of Michigan. "California Doctor Won't Be Prosecuted" USA Today (05/23/94) P. 8A Joe Coe, a California doctor who helped an AIDS patient end his life, will not face prosecution, say authorities. The Jan. 11 death of 33-year-old Thomas Snell was ruled a homicide because it was caused by a "human agent." Coe admitted that he told Snell, who was blind and unable to move or swallow, how he could commit suicide with morphine. According to Shasta County District Attorney Dennis Sheehy, Coe will not be prosecuted because a conviction could not be won. "He was moved by compassion," Sheehy explains. "He is not trying to campaign or act like a Jack Kevorkian." The case will be referred to the state's medical licensing board. "AIDS Facility in Pinch, May Close" Philadelphia Inquirer (05/21/94) P. B1; Collins, Huntly Betak, Philadelphia's only nursing home for AIDS patients, is in danger of being shut down within two weeks unless it can make up a shortfall in its $2.2 million budget. The crisis was triggered by the decision of a hospital consortium including Temple, Graduate, and the University of Pennsylvania not to extend a one-year emergency grant to the facility past the first of July. The three hospitals have contributed $600,000 to Betak over the past fiscal year. The facility hoped to generate enough money to replace the grant when it expires, but has been unsuccessful. A closing would force the transfer of 40 critically ill patients into area hospitals, nursing homes, and shelters, according to a Betak spokesperson. AIDS activists responded by saying they would demonstrate outside of the home today; some even spoke of a hunger strike. "There is no other place in the region that can provide the quality of care that Betak provides," said David Fair, executive director of We the People Living with AIDS/HIV. "To close it will threaten the lives of the residents there." Betak officials met with city and state officials in hopes of devising a bailout plan but, as of yesterday, no plan was in effect. "Murderer With AIDS Gets Death" Houston Chronicle (05/20/94) P. 27A; Liebrum, Jennifer Defense attorneys for convicted murderer James Dickerson thought his childhood of sexual abuse combined with his health status--he has AIDS--would get him a life sentence. Although they informed the jury that Dickerson would probably die from the disease in as little as three years, the jury sentenced the defendant to death for the slaying of a real estate agent. Said juror Janice Walton, speaking for the others, "There are other people with life-threatening diseases every day. A lot of people had difficult childhoods. That doesn't justify what he did." "AIDSLine: Is Some of My Pain Only in My Head?" Advocate (05/03/94) No. 654, P. 34; Cohan, Gary R. HIV patients that experience aching, burning, numb, tingling, hypersensitive, or outright painful feelings in their hands and feet might think the pain is all in their head. Predominantly sensory neuropathy (PSN), however, is a nerve disorder that is actually rather common among people in the symptomatic, later stages of HIV infection. The condition, which develops in more than 30 percent of AIDS patients, often starts in the toes or fingertips and spreads proximally. Because PSN can make it painful to walk or use one's hands, early intervention is crucial. The patient's medication list should be reviewed to identify possible contributors to PSN, such as ddI, ddC, d4T, Dapsone, and isoniazid. Excess vitamin B6 or too much alcohol can also contribute to the problem. Mild neuropathy can be treated by simply taking ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), while tricyclic antidepressants are more effective for more severe symptoms. Alternatives include topical capsaicin cream, certain antiseizure medicines, or a hear-rhythm drug called mexiletine hydrochloride. Because many of these drugs have adverse side effects, physicians should consider prescribing drugs to relieve severe discomfort.