Given people's lives are at stake, such as Ian, featured in the article "Aids still a killer after 20 years" (The Argus, July 3), it is morally imperative an honest and open debate on the HIV/Aids hypothesis takes place.

During this month, so-called "dissident" virologists from around the world are attending a conference in Barcelona which will pose the question "Does HIV lead to Aids?".

Professor Peter Duesberg is credited with having first mapped the genetic structure of retroviruses. In his book Aids, he says it is a lifestyle disease - "In the US and Europe, Aids is caused by the long-term consumption of immuno-suppressive recreational drugs such as cocaine, heroin and poppers" - and, controversially, considers HIV to be a harmless retrovirus.

Prize-winning medical journalist Joan Shenton writes in her book Positively False that "HIV testing is mistaken".

The Argus has a duty to investigate and elicit the truth, to ensure valuable resources are directed to the real cause of Aids (whatever that may be) so lives such as Ian's may be saved.

-David Hammond, North Court, Hassocks