"AIDS Stigma Still a Problem, Magic's Doctor Says"

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1992. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

"AIDS Stigma Still a Problem, Magic's Doctor Says"

Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition (12/15/92), P. A8
Almond, Elliott

Abstract: Magic Johnson's second retirement from the National Basketball Association on Nov. 4 illustrates that discrimination against HIV-positive people is a reality among professional athletes, according to Johnson's physician Michael Mellman. He said, "I guess we just didn't to a good enough job, or we weren't convincing enough or we got our facts messed up. It's so hard to know what is wrong." Mellman's frustration stems from the fact that Johnson played in last February's NBA All-Star game and last summer's Olympic Games without the controversy that came a week before this NBA season began. Once Johnson announced he would play regular-season games, fears arose among players and officials. Johnson said the pressures of being an HIV-positive athlete were too much to bear once he was introduced to the world of AIDS discrimination. Mellman said, "In spite of our attempts to educate, the message is: "Watch out. There will be some form of discrimination that will occur." Although experts said there is an infinitesimal chance of transmission among players, it did not allay fears of some players who were worried that Johnson's infected blood could mix with theirs in an open wound if they collided. Mellman said the only area where similar HIV transmission has been documented is in the health-care setting. Health-care workers usually deal with patients who are sick and thus have high levels of the virus in their blood. But competing athletes would more likely be healthy, and carrying low levels of the virus. Therefore, the chances of transmission are much lower.

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