Retraction: Questioning the HIV-AIDS hypothesis: 30 years of dissent (Frontiers in Public Health, (2014), 2, (154), 10.3389/fpubh.2014.00154)

Abstract

In 2014, Frontiers in Public Health published an article by Dr. Patricia Goodson, Texas A&M University: “Questioning the HIV-AIDS hypothesis: 30 years of dissent”. The article was submitted under our “Hypothesis and Theory” article-type and purported to review “the most salient questions raised, alongside theories proposing non-viral causes for AIDS.” The utility of the article as a historical summary of dissenting theories of AIDS was recognized by the reviewers and editors, who accepted the article for publication. Within days, several formal complaints were received by our office, and, in accordance with our complaints protocol, we submitted these to a group of Editors-in-Chief for their expert opinion. Based on their advice, rontiers took three actions: 1. The article-type was changed to “Opinion" to better reflect the subjectivity of the subject matter and to clarify to the scientific community and broader readership that the work was not one of empirical basis. 2. Most importantly, several invited critical commentaries were published and linked directly to the published opinion article. These commentaries situated the original paper within the context of unsupported, fringe theories on HIV-AIDS. They were intended to ensure that all readersunderstand that the causal link between HIV and AIDS cannot be called into question. 3. Frontiers published a statement to clarify our decision concerning the above two points.