Doctor Spreading Fear of AIDS

I am writing this letter as a community advocate and former patient of Dr. Cary Savitch (“Physician Advocates Mandatory AIDS Testing,” Nov. 30).

I attended the talk Savitch did for the congregation of Temple Adat Elohim in Thousand Oaks in November. Although this was advertised as a community forum, my perception was that the attendees were mostly from the congregation. The group was made up of mostly junior high school age children. The information coming from this doctor is doing nothing but spreading fear into the community.

Based on the questions I heard from this audience, most people have not received any formal AIDS education. These are the types of individuals that will grasp on to his ideals becasue Savitch is an authority figure and they are not being offered any other definitions from qualified educators in the field of HIV / AIDS.

This sort of one-sided, one-man show must be balanced with words from the HIV /AIDS providers in our county. We are trying to take steps to educate Ventura County residents, and in particular working toward getting into the east county communities where there is a perception by the residents that HIV/ AIDS does not exist, nor pose any problems for their children.

An effort should be made for another public forum where representatives from the HIV / AIDS providers in our county can present information that will provide a better balance to the information Savitch is spreading to our community on his book tour.

My problem with the doctor is that he still treats patients with HIV / AIDS. He gives themt he drug protocols but then tells them they are going to die anyway. I have seen the mental damage he has inflicted on patients with this doom and gloom approach. Isn’t this a form of malpractice?

I was lucky to have only seen him for a short period many years ago. I was able to see what he was doing and moved on immediately to the dedicated staff of the Immunology Clinic at Ventura County Medical Center.

BILL GREENE

Camarillo