Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, International Issues Subcommittee [Transcript]

9
1 In the context not of an ideal world but of the
2 real world of successful vaccine development which saved
3 millions of lives in this country and around the world each
4 year, that failure is unethical and violates human rights.
5 The point I guess in broad terms is that the failure to
6 act, like silence, has moral consequences.
7 For public health, science is an instrument,
8 not an end in itself. For public health, medicine is an
9 instrument, not an end in itself. The larger question is
10 the larger responsibility at the heart of the moral
11 authority and the legitimacy of our government, the
12 accountability. Beyond NIH or CDC or FDA, the real
13 question is, who is responsible for the health of the
14 public of the United States? Who is in charge, and who is
15 going to be the champion of the public health?
16 (Applause.)
17 MR. FOGEL: Where do you think the delay lies
18 for not beginning a field trial?
19 DR. MANN: I think it's actually very clear,
20 and I'm actually quite fortunate to have had you ask that
21 question of me because I don't have any NIH grants --
22 (Laughter.)
23 DR. MANN: -- and I think it's time to be as
24 clear as possible. The people who have been placed in
25 charge of --
26 MR. FOGEL: And we've never talked before,

FREILICHER & ASSOCIATES, COURT REPORTERS
[phone]