Weird Wulsin Story - Injecting Aids Patients With Malaria
Submitted by staff on Wed, 03/22/2006 - 5:55pm.
This is about as weird as anything gets. Victoria Wulsin is running for congress in the 2nd district in the Democratic primary. So far so good.
She used to work at the Heimlich institute - from here it gets weird. Henry J. Heimlich was the guy who apparently invented the "maneuver" - or maybe not. He is also the father of Phil Heimlich who was Petro's running mate.
Well first go read this, put together by his other son, Peter
In March 2002, I began researching the career of my father, Henry J. Heimlich MD, the Cincinnati physician known for the Heimlich maneuver. To my astonishment, the information I compiled from hundreds - and eventually thousands - of original source documents revealed a dark and troubling history of fraud that was a far cry from his public image. Since then my original research has been the basis of articles in numerous publications, including the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Reuters, and many others. (Two of these articles have won press awards.) In November 2005, my wife Karen and I were profiled in a two-part article in Radar Magazine.
Strange huh ? It's gets stranger. He details all kinds of fraud and quackery - when we get to this
My research also turned up information about perhaps the most bizarre quackery in which my father has been engaged for 25 years: "malariotherapy." My father - who has no background in immunology - has claimed that AIDS, cancer, and Lyme Disease can be cured by injecting patients with malaria. Deaconess and others have funded illicit human experiments on indigent AIDS victims in China and are currently doing so in several African countries. Leading bioethicists, including Peter Lurie MD of Public Citizen, have condemned these experiments as medical atrocities. According to a recent article, the "research director" for the Africa project is a car rental agent in the San Francisco area.
Ok, that's just nuts. Injecting aids victims with Malaria !
More in the extended and how Wulsin is involved
Then I came across this article
By the same tortured logic Heimlich wants to convince the world of the therapeutic power of malaria. His hopes for using the illness to cure cancer and Lyme disease had already been scuttled in the early 1990s, after the Mexican authorities shut down a clinical trial in Mexico City, according to Heimlich’s friend Harry Gibbons. So Heimlich—who trained as a thoracic surgeon and has no background in immunology—gambled that “malariotherapy” would solve the AIDS puzzle. To some researchers, including Dr. Victoria Wells Wulsin, the theory held some intuitive appeal.“I was curious about malariotherapy, because infection can be an immune booster,” says Wulsin, an epidemiologist hired by Heimlich in August 2004 to study the theory’s plausibility. “You get sick, and your body responds with white blood cells. That’s what you need to fight off HIV, right?”
But more than 10 years earlier the Centers for Disease Control had declared that “No evidence currently exists to indicate that malaria infection would beneficially affect the course of HIV infection.” And since malaria might be harmful to a patient whose immune system is already compromised by HIV, the agency added that clinical trials “cannot be justified.
WTF?! One of our candidates thought this was a good idea.
So then this freak show went on the road again, to Africa
While researching her report Dr. Wulsin, who has field experience with AIDS in Africa, says that Heimlich’s assistant, Dr. Eric Spletzer, gave her data that had been gathered from Africa—CD4 counts, apparently from HIV-positive patients who also had malaria—but would not disclose the usual contextual information. There was no signature from the researcher who took the data, and no explanation of how it was gathered. This struck Wulsin as strange; she needed that information to make sure the data wasn’t biased. When she asked Spletzer for it, he refused. “I think Eric and Hank [Heimlich] knew things that, for a variety of reasons, they didn’t want to share with me,” says Wulsin, who declines to say more about what those reasons might be.
The article then goes on
Wulsin had been lured to the Heimlich Institute with the understanding that she’d be groomed to take over its presidency from Heimlich himself. After a few months, however, she began to suspect that this honor had a string attached: She had to produce a document supporting further malariotherapy trials. Instead her report proposes significant upgrades in safeguards, oversight, and accountability before moving forward. Wulsin even suggests changing the name “malariotherapy” to “immunotherapy,” suggesting that the very treatment itself was tainted.In December 2004, the day after issuing a draft of her report (which has been obtained by Radar), Wulsin was fired.
OK, This is just flat our weird. Read the entire article. What was done to these aids patients is horrific.
I dunno
Submitted by staff on Wed, 03/22/2006 - 6:35pm.
but it sure sounds like they killed a lot of people.
Wow . . .
Submitted by TheCablinasianRam on Thu, 03/23/2006 - 12:48am.
And I thought Schmidt was the only batshit crazy I was able to vote for in my district. Glad to know I can still vote for lunatic without crossing-over.
97X . . . BAM
Wulsin's involvement
Submitted by Muffet on Thu, 03/23/2006 - 10:14am.
Wulsin is an AID's researcher. She analyzed data for the Heimlich Institute. She blasted the experiments, and she was fired for it.
Get the tin foil hats off, guys.
From OH-2d
Submitted by Muffet on Thu, 03/23/2006 - 10:16am.
AnnDriscoll Says:
March 23rd, 2006 at 12:38 am
Pounder,
Let’s not blow this out of proportion. Dr. Wulsin is an AIDS researcher. She analyzed data for the Heimlich Institute, which is considered a preeminent institute (rightfully or wrongfully) and she then delivered a highly critical report of malariotherapy experiments. She was subsequently fired for telling the truth. Read the
Radar article She gave the interview so it’s clear she has nothing to hide.
-Ann Driscoll
*That* was highly critical?
Submitted by iamohio on Thu, 03/23/2006 - 10:42am.
Instead her report proposes significant upgrades in safeguards, oversight, and accountability before moving forward. Wulsin even suggests changing the name “malariotherapy” to “immunotherapy,” suggesting that the very treatment itself was tainted.
I don't see where she denounced the procedure. I see where she told them to put up safeguards, but suggested they could still move forward with it. The "significant upgrades" she proposed were the equivalent of Paul Hackett's "I think we should look into this."
Plus, she advised them to change the name of it, which is basically a PR move.
Wulsin's not a bad candidate, but OH-2 may want to explore its options. Jim Parker, maybe?
Read everything she said in the Radar article not just this.
Submitted by Muffet on Thu, 03/23/2006 - 10:51am.
Wulsin had been lured to the Heimlich Institute with the understanding that she’d be groomed to take over its presidency from Heimlich himself. After a few months, however, she began to suspect that this honor had a string attached: She had to produce a document supporting further malariotherapy trials. Instead her report proposes significant upgrades in safeguards, oversight, and accountability before moving forward. Wulsin even suggests changing the name “malariotherapy” to “immunotherapy,” suggesting that the very treatment itself was tainted.
In December 2004, the day after issuing a draft of her report (which has been obtained by Radar), Wulsin was fired.
Muffet
Submitted by staff on Thu, 03/23/2006 - 11:25am.
I included that portion in my original post because it does add some important context. However it does not address the issue of was she for or against the general idea of injecting aids patients with Malaria. She is quoted as thinking this idea might have some merit even though CDC was saying it was dangerous and nonsense.
I would certainly like to know more - I think there are some serious unanswered questions here.
More "malariotherapy" information
Submitted by Peter Heimlich on Thu, 03/23/2006 - 7:35pm.
Click here for considerable additional information about "malariotherapy" quackery and the ongoing illicit human experiments being conducted on indigent AIDS victims in Africa and China.
A Cincinnati blog, The Beacon, has been reporting this and related stories for over a year, publishing important information which the major media outlets in the Queen City have failed to report.
Great blog, Buckeye. Keep up the good work!
PETER HEIMLICH
A Cincinnati blog, The Beacon, has been reporting this and related stories for over a year, publishing important information which the major media outlets in the Queen City have failed to report.
Great blog, Buckeye. Keep up the good work!
PETER HEIMLICH
Thanks for dropping by
Submitted by staff on Thu, 03/23/2006 - 7:44pm.
What's your understanding of Wulsin's role in all this if you have any? A co-conspirator or a whistle blower or duped ?
It's not complicated.
Submitted by Peter Heimlich on Thu, 03/23/2006 - 11:47pm.
Here's a link
Submitted by Muffet on Thu, 03/23/2006 - 8:01pm.
to an interview with the author of the December 2005 article.
http://198.234.121.108/cincinnatiedition/112005_Heimlich.mp3
You should write a diary on all this
Submitted by staff on Thu, 03/23/2006 - 8:17pm.
there's a lot of info flying around.
From The Cincinnati Beacon
Submitted by Muffet on Thu, 03/23/2006 - 8:09pm.
Victoria Wells Wulsin has been associated with the Heimlich scandals in town, though the recent article in Cincinnati Magazine does depict Wulsin as bothered by the behavior of the Heimlich Institute, particularly the human experiments in China and Africa (where Dr. Heimlich supported injecting malaria into AIDS patients, despite his lack of solid research for such dangerous and life-threatening behavior).
Here's a link, too, to an organization Wulsin founded. She helps others.
Wulsin's response
Submitted by Jesse Roos on Fri, 03/24/2006 - 1:27am.
This is copied directly from our campaign mailbox and the message was in response to an email from Russell Hughlock at buckeyesenateblogs.com. It was sent at 8:53 AM this morning.
Dear Russell,
Thank you for your interest in my background, and I appreciate your
writing to find out.
In 2004 I researched malariotherapy, which is giving [usually by
injection] someone Plasmodium falciparum or Plasmodium vivax, the most
common pathogens causing malaria, for the sake of immunologic responses
that benefit the patient. The long-term goal was to see if a component of
the pathogen could be used in some form or formulation as a vaccine or
treatment for HIV/AIDS.
I began by a review of the literature regarding the epidemiology of
malaria and HIV co-infection.
Although millions of people suffer from both diseases every year, the
scientific evidence for a salutary effect between the two diseases was
close to nonexistent. Furthermore, malaria is a serious, painful,
infectious, and life-threatening illness. For many reasons (outlined in
my summary document to the Heimlich Institute, who had hired me), actually
giving anyone malaria willfully is unethical.
I recommended that the Heimlich Institute discontinue its investigation of
malariotherapy. The epidemiologic evidence did not indicate a likely
factor that would warrant further immunologic (e.g., in vitro analyses)
study. My consultancy for the Institute was terminated the following day
by Dr. Heimlich.
Since that time, I have returned to my passion in public health:
preventing disease. SOTENI International, the non-profit corporation a
group of us founded in 2003, is dedicated to preventing and mitigating the
effects of HIV/AIDS among the world’s most vulnerable populations. We
have begun by establishing four community-led programs in Kenya to enable
and empower the ~ 8,000 orphans and vulnerable children [almost all of
whom are HIV-negative] to remain AIDS-free.
I am running for Congress in large part because our government does not
adequately protect our public health. I hope you will support me in
bringing about the change needed to put into action what epidemiologists
have been advocating for decades.
Sincerely,
Vic Wulsin
Additional questions?
Submitted by Peter Heimlich on Fri, 03/24/2006 - 10:16am.
Mr. Hughlock and/or others, you may wish to direct the following additional questions to Dr. Wulsin.
1. How did she come to be hired by the Heimlich Institute?
2. "Malariotherapy" has been thoroughly discredited by leading immunologists and bioethicists since at least 1994. Illicit human experiments conducted by the Heimlich Institute since 1990 in Mexico, China, and Africa have been compared to the Tuskegee syphilis and Nazi concentration camp experiments. In a widely reported scandal in Spring 2003, UCLA researchers were caught doing backdoor human experiments in association with the Heimlich Institute, infecting AIDS patients in China with malaria. (NY Times, LA Times, Reuters, two front page Cincinnati Enquirer articles, etc.)
Was Dr. Wulsin unaware of all this before taking the job?
3. The UCLA scandal erupted in 2003 because the China "malariotherapy" human experiments were not supervised by an institutional review board (IRB). International law requires IRB oversight to protect human subjects from abusive research.
Why did Dr. Wulsin work on the Heimlich Institute's Africa "malariotherapy" project and evaluate patient data, knowing there was no IRB in place? Why did she quit this illicit project only when Dr. Heimlich asked her to leave and not before? Given that her letter includes the admission that the project violates human subject research protection guidelines - "giving anyone malaria willfully is unethical" - to which oversight agencies has she reported the violations?
4. Between which dates was she employed and how many hours per month did she work? How much was she paid?
5. Was she paid by the Heimlich Institute (which is wholly owned by Deaconess Associations) or by Dr. Heimlich personally?
6. When was she first contacted by a reporter looking into the story?
7. What contact has Dr. Wulsin had with Michelle Ashby, formerly of the Denver Gold Group?
8. Will Dr. Wulsin provide a copy of her report to you?
1. How did she come to be hired by the Heimlich Institute?
2. "Malariotherapy" has been thoroughly discredited by leading immunologists and bioethicists since at least 1994. Illicit human experiments conducted by the Heimlich Institute since 1990 in Mexico, China, and Africa have been compared to the Tuskegee syphilis and Nazi concentration camp experiments. In a widely reported scandal in Spring 2003, UCLA researchers were caught doing backdoor human experiments in association with the Heimlich Institute, infecting AIDS patients in China with malaria. (NY Times, LA Times, Reuters, two front page Cincinnati Enquirer articles, etc.)
Was Dr. Wulsin unaware of all this before taking the job?
3. The UCLA scandal erupted in 2003 because the China "malariotherapy" human experiments were not supervised by an institutional review board (IRB). International law requires IRB oversight to protect human subjects from abusive research.
Why did Dr. Wulsin work on the Heimlich Institute's Africa "malariotherapy" project and evaluate patient data, knowing there was no IRB in place? Why did she quit this illicit project only when Dr. Heimlich asked her to leave and not before? Given that her letter includes the admission that the project violates human subject research protection guidelines - "giving anyone malaria willfully is unethical" - to which oversight agencies has she reported the violations?
4. Between which dates was she employed and how many hours per month did she work? How much was she paid?
5. Was she paid by the Heimlich Institute (which is wholly owned by Deaconess Associations) or by Dr. Heimlich personally?
6. When was she first contacted by a reporter looking into the story?
7. What contact has Dr. Wulsin had with Michelle Ashby, formerly of the Denver Gold Group?
8. Will Dr. Wulsin provide a copy of her report to you?
Take a listen
Submitted by Muffet on Fri, 03/24/2006 - 2:10pm.
Listen to this, too.Submitted by Muffet on Thu, 03/23/2006 - 7:05pm.
It's a family ripped apart. Here's a link to an interview with the person who did the Cincinnati Magazine article.
http://198.234.121.108/cincinnatiedition/112005_Heimlich.mp3
Can we put this to rest?
Submitted by Muffet on Fri, 03/24/2006 - 2:24pm.
I am glad that Vic Wulsin responded. That's the real story. Remember to take a look at
I'm glad she responded, too, but...
Submitted by jenny-diver on Fri, 03/24/2006 - 6:17pm.
I also look forward to her answers on the additional questions listed by Peter Heimlich.
Muffet, thanks for posting that radio interview with the Cincinnati Magazine reporter in which she said she considered it a very important story to bring out.
Muffet, thanks for posting that radio interview with the Cincinnati Magazine reporter in which she said she considered it a very important story to bring out.
Wulsin is a Hero
Submitted by david_steuber on Thu, 06/29/2006 - 7:59pm.
Whoever wrote this posting is deliberately misrepresenting the contents of the article they link to.  The article says quite clearly that:
Epidemiologist Victoria Wulsin, hired by the Heimlch Institute to analyze data on AIDS patients with malaria, cautioned against further unsupervised experiments in Africa and was fired when she presented her findings.
Vic Wulsin obviously stood up to a very well-renowned and powerful individual, and then put her foot down when she saw something unethical occurring.  She was even willing to lose her job for it.
If you ask me that is exactly the kind of individual we need to have in Congress.
hmm
Submitted by staff on Thu, 06/29/2006 - 8:02pm.
the post includes the section about her being fired. Not sure how you can claim it's misleading at all.
David
Submitted by Ohio2nd on Thu, 06/29/2006 - 8:57pm.
if you don't like this story getting any play, the last thing you'd want to do is kick it to the top of the Live discussions bar by commenting on it.
I was wondering
Submitted by staff on Thu, 06/29/2006 - 10:22pm.
if that was actually the intent to be honest.
I have a copy of what seems
Submitted by The Dean on Thu, 06/29/2006 - 9:05pm.
I have a copy of what seems to be the report she submitted to The Heimlich Institute. In it, she says that, due to the bad press given to malariotherapy, that the name should be changed to immunotherapy and more experiments should be conducted.
Here is an excerpt:
>> Programmatic Next Steps
>>
>> 1. Write a strategic plan for the Heimlich Institute.
>> 2. Rename malariotherapy "Immunotherapy" ["IT"].
>> 3. Verify and elaborate on East Africa Phase II trial.
>> 4. Explore further collaborating with Michele Ashby, the Denver
>> Gold Group,
>> and/or the CEOs, medical directors, &/or others of appropriate
>> mining companies.
>> 5. Complete and publish review of Immunotherapy.
 
The Dean of Cincinnati
Publisher, The Cincinnati Beacon
So.
Submitted by Muffet on Thu, 06/29/2006 - 11:43pm.
I guess you love Schmidt.  Good G-d.  Drop this bullshit.
Stop being ridiculous,
Submitted by The Dean on Fri, 06/30/2006 - 7:57am.
Stop being ridiculous, Muffet.  Why should I ignore Wulsin's potentially unethical behavior (and her subsequent lies) just because the other option is also bad?
Here's the reality:  both candidates are no good.  I do not subscribed to the "lesser of two evils" argument, and I will not put on blinders. 
The Dean of Cincinnati
Publisher, The Cincinnati Beacon
She is good.
Submitted by Muffet on Fri, 06/30/2006 - 9:14am.
So who are you going to elect?  Just tell me that.  Is it your job to just poke holes in things, or are you actually going to do something for some good?  Nobody's actually asking you to put on blinders.  That would look silly with your hat.
Try "invetigating" how Greg Hartmann is probably using info from his current job as county clerk to get names for his campaign.  Now, there's somebody who is not good.  There is somebody who has bought his way into jobs.  There is somebody who has not done any good for others. 
Muffet
Submitted by staff on Fri, 06/30/2006 - 1:01pm.
Sometimes it is just about reporting the facts.
If you would like me to
Submitted by The Dean on Fri, 06/30/2006 - 1:17pm.
If you would like me to ignore facts, Muffet, then please tell me what it is about. 
The Dean of Cincinnati
Publisher, The Cincinnati Beacon
By the way, Muffet -- why
Submitted by The Dean on Fri, 06/30/2006 - 1:17pm.
By the way, Muffet -- why should I investigate Hartman?  Sounds like you have a good start... 
The Dean of Cincinnati
Publisher, The Cincinnati Beacon
Genocide
It sounds like he was trying to perform genocide.
I suspect that there was an underlying reason of doing this that had nothing to do with medicine but rather to try to kill AIDS patients in order to try to wipe out AIDS.
Instead of putting them in gas chambers as the Nazies did to Jews, this pseudotherapy was created to achieve the same result.