Where is the line drawn?

There was a story that Glenn Beck covered on his program on Thursday which I found interesting. It was the story of Andrew Stimpson, 25, of London. Stimpson was told in 2002 that he was HIV positive. You can read the whole story here, or summarized below.

Stimpson, diagnosed as HIV positive in 2002, had struggled with himself after the diagnosis. He wondered where he got it, and had suicidal thoughts to spare himself the pain associated with treatment and continued life with this disease. In a follow up visit to the clinic a year later, they told him he was free of HIV, that he exhibited no signs of the disease. The scientific community has had doubts on this one. The clinic doctors insist that he had HIV, other doctors doubt he ever had the disease.

Regardless, the scientific community has courted this man for more blood samples, in the event that he has the genetic cure, that his body produced the antigen capable of fighting HIV and winning. Stimpson’s response? “No, Thanks.”

What makes this an interesting topic is where to go from here? Here is a man who may have the possible cure for 35 million people. The doctors don’t want a liver, or his brain, or anything. They just want some blood, yet the man refuses. What can be done? Can the man be forced to give the samples, or should his rights be respected, that the government cannot tell some one what to do with their own body? But he may have the cure to save 35 million people. Where is the line drawn between personal rights, and saving 35 million people? This is not a war, mind you. This is a cure for a disease that is easily preventable, that doesn’t have to spread anymore than it already has. Look forward to a spirited discussion on this one…