Fiasco The AIDS Crisis: Episode 1 - Gay Plague
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Jun 9, 2023 Bobby Campbell, a pioneering nurse and AIDS advocate, shares his early experiences living with AIDS in 1980s San Francisco. Randy Alfred, host of 'The Gay Life,' discusses his groundbreaking interview with Campbell that highlighted the stigma surrounding the disease. Infectious disease specialist Jeffrey Green reveals the chaotic response from medical professionals as they confronted an unfamiliar illness. Together, they offer a raw look at the intertwined narratives of fear, resilience, and urgent need for awareness during the AIDS crisis.
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Bobby Campbell's Diagnosis
- In 1982, Bobby Campbell, a 29-year-old nurse, noticed purple spots on his feet after a hiking trip.
- A biopsy revealed Kaposi's sarcoma, later known as "gay cancer."
H.W.'s Case
- Dr. Jeffrey Green encountered a patient (H.W.) with advanced pneumonia and unusual skin lesions in 1980.
- H.W.'s lung biopsy revealed five rare infections, indicating severe immune suppression.
The "Gay Disease" Assumption
- Initially, the connection between the new disease and gay men led Dr. Green to believe it was a "gay disease."
- This assumption influenced his diagnosis even when faced with a patient with intravenous drug use history.