Peter Duesberg

Duesberg advocated the idea that aneuploidy — an abnormal number of chromosomes — is a primary cause of cancer rather than merely a secondary effect of oncogenic mutations. This position strongly challenges the dominant paradigm but has been the subject of peer-reviewed publications.

State of the evidence

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Attribution

Directly implicated

Duesberg and his co-authors published an article in Medical Hypotheses disputing that HIV caused the South African epidemic and criticising antiretrovirals. Following complaints, Elsevier arranged an external review; all five reviewers recommended rejection, and the article was permanently withdrawn.

Attribution

Directly implicated

Two complaints prompted Berkeley to examine whether Duesberg had committed academic misconduct in publishing the Medical Hypotheses article, particularly regarding data selection and disclosure of conflicts of interest.

State of the evidence

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Directly implicated

Duesberg developed a theory that a large proportion of AIDS cases could be explained by chronic drug use, antiretroviral medication, malnutrition and other conditions rather than HIV.

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Directly implicated

South African President Thabo Mbeki invited Duesberg to join his AIDS advisory panel, bringing together mainstream scientists and dissidents who disputed HIV's causal role. Duesberg's positions consequently became a prominent reference in the South African governmental debate.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Duesberg published a series of articles disputing that HIV causes AIDS, culminating in texts claiming mere correlation rather than causation. He instead attributed AIDS-related diseases to drugs, conventional infections, malnutrition and other factors.

Attribution

Directly implicated