IN MEMORIAM: CHARLIE SAMSON AND DON WRIGHT

AIDS TREATMENT NEWS recently lost two friends and former staff members, Charlie Samson and Don Wright. They are remembered for their strong fight to survive with AIDS and their good work for the newsletter.

Charlie was responsible for the painstakingly thorough index found at the end of the collected back issues of AIDS TREATMENT NEWS #1 through #50. He was fluent in treatment information and assisted many subscribers who called the newsletter with related questions. Charlie also stood by very strong political convictions. He fought for social justice before the epidemic, and often protested the homophobic and xenophobic mishandling of the AIDS crisis by the Reagan administration. When his friend Eric died several years ago, Charlie contended that Eric and all people who have died of AIDS were essentially murdered by the purposeful neglect of their own government and a healthcare system which puts profits ahead of people. Charlie was particularly grateful for all the work women have done in the epidemic, and often said so to his supporting circle of friends, which he called his "Helper Cell". Charlie died on May 24th.

Don worked only briefly at AIDS TREATMENT NEWS but in that time he developed a careful and useful method of archiving the vast quantity of periodicals and correspondence we receive. Like Charlie, Don viewed his life and his world through a political perspective which challenged oppression of women, people of color, gay people, and of course people with AIDS. He was familiar with medical terminology and enjoyed discussing the newest developments in AIDS treatments. Don died on July 23rd.

Charlie Samson and Don Wright will not be forgotten, and their fight has brought us closer to the day when AIDS and the injustices it exposed are defeated.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

AIDS TREATMENT NEWS reports on experimental and complementary treatments, especially those available now. It collects information from medical journals, and from interviews with scientists physicians, and other health practitioners, and persons with AIDS or ARC.

Long-term survivors have usually tried many different treatments, and found combinations which work for them. AIDS TREATMENT NEWS does not recommend particular therapies, but seeks to increase the options available.

We also examine the ethical and public-policy issues around AIDS treatment research.