Dr. Robert Redfield, appointed to head the Center for Disease Control in 2018, had a long and controversial history with his approach to AIDS.
During his tenure as a Major at the Walter Reed Medical Institute, Dr. Redfield was one of the architects of Army policy regarding AIDS. It included mandatory testing with no confidentiality, and those that tested positive were quarantined, faced various administrative punishments, or were dishonorably discharged. Redfield explained, “The reason we have done what we have done is that we think it’s good medicine – and it’s medicine that might work in the civilian sector, as well.” He was a proponent of H.R. 2788 that sought to allow HIV testing without consent and force states to have doctors report the names of positive cases.
Redfield wrote an introduction to the book Christians in the Age of AIDS, which read:
It is time to reject the temptation of denial of the AIDS/HIV crisis; to reject false prophets who preach the quick-fix strategies of condoms and free needles; to reject those who preach prejudice; and to reject those who try to replace God as judge.
He also regularly denounced use of condoms and needle exchange programs to prevent its spread throughout his career. The CDC says that proper use of condoms can reduce risk of HIV transmission.
Upon taking office, Redfield claimed that his views had since changed.
Redfield’s predecessor, Brenda Fitzgerald, was appointed by Trump in 2017 and resigned after a report of conflicts of interests involving her investments, including various tobacco stocks.
Vice President Mike Pence, leader of the COVID-19 task force, also has a controversial record with public health and science.
Foreign Policy – Meet Trump’s New, Homophobic Public Health Quack
CNN – Why Trump’s new CDC director is an abysmal choice
AP News – Health official who urged abstinence says views have changed
Congress.gov – H.R.2788 – Kimberly Bergalis Patient and Health Provider Protection Act of 1991
Center for Disease Control – Condom Effectiveness
The New York Times – Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald, C.D.C. Director, Resigns Over Tobacco and Other Investments
