A.I.D.S. Babies Abandoned (Press, 10 February 1987)
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Summary: A.I.D.S. Babies Abandoned (Press, 10 February 1987)
On 10 February 1987, Dr Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, a prominent expert on death and dying, addressed a crowd in Christchurch, New Zealand, highlighting a distressing issue regarding mothers abandoning their babies with AIDS in the United States. Dr Kubler-Ross, who has spent time working with AIDS-affected infants, explained that many mothers loved their children dearly but felt forced to abandon them due to the overwhelming medical expenses associated with their care. She stated that leaving their children was often seen as the only way to ensure they would receive proper care. During her talk, Dr Kubler-Ross condemned the harsh treatment of AIDS patients, reflecting on the inhumane attitudes some individuals displayed towards those suffering from the disease. This echoed her experiences when she attempted to establish a hospice for AIDS babies on her farm in the U.S. the previous year. Her efforts were met with significant hostility, including threats to burn her home and dangerous sabotage on her property, which left her car vulnerable to flat tyres. Dr Kubler-Ross noted the escalating AIDS crisis, stating that the number of people diagnosed with the disease was doubling every ten months. She suggested that society's fear surrounding AIDS could lead to severe consequences, warning that if people continued to be fearful, it might eventually extend to basic interactions, such as drinking water or conducting transactions in shops. She had arrived in New Zealand the previous Sunday to conduct a week-long workshop focused on death and dying, which attracted around 80 participants, including health professionals, laypersons, and terminally ill individuals, all of whom paid NZ$80 to attend. Dr Kubler-Ross's insights brought attention to not only the medical difficulties of AIDS but also the emotional and social ramifications for affected families, underlining the urgent need for compassion and understanding within society.
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