Customer Reviews

AIDS in the Dental Office? the Story of Kimberly Bergalis & Dr. David Acer

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a really interesting book written by a dentist who was an expert witness in the insurance lawsuits between Kim Bergalis, CIGNA and CNA. Kim, you may recall, is the virginal, non-drug -using college student in Florida who allegedly was infected with HIV/AIDS after her AIDS-infected dentist extracted 2 teeth back in 1987. When the news became public in 1990, a media & political circus ensued as people became worried about a simple visit to the dentist or doctor. Kim came under attack from the CDC who had a hard time believing she didn't pick up HIV from sexual intercourse. The book includes details about Dr. Acer, the CDC's findings, the political bureaucracy (culminating in Kim's speech on Capitol Hill in 1991) as well as Kim's battle with the disease and opposition from the gay community. My only quibble is that the book contains some basic typos. It was published in 1993 and some things have happened with the case since then. If you're interested in this subject, I recommend you see Lee Blessing's short play "Patient A" - Lee was commissioned by the Bergalis family to tell Kim's story... - Lori M. Sampso

A quick google search for the subject of this book will pull up the now irrefutable facts that Kimerly Bergalis was a normal, sexually active, 23-yr-old and that it is highly unlikely she contracted AIDS from her dentist.
Sympathies to her family, but we can not let lies persist when ignorance still forms the backbone of AIDS discrimination.