Whoa, whoa. Let's all calm down and live by these seemingly rational comments we are making here. I don't believe, AS YET, for or against Mr. Heimlich's proposal/theory and with that in mind, you people critisize this guy for jumping to unfounded/dangerous conclusions but at the same time exalt what these established medical critics say. They could be wrong as well. You, as most people do, react from pure emotion combined with total technical ignorance, and frankly that applies to those with "M.D." and "P.H.D." after their names many times as well. Heimlich's a crackpot? Irresponsible? Maybe an egotist? Well those descriptors could also well apply to a vast percentage of the ignoramuses within the medical and scientific professions these days. Mr. Fauci? Who the 'el is he? god speaking from the mountain top? Get a grip and stop shooting arrows of condemnation from the bushes, especially when 9 out of 10 of you know nothing yourselves. What's the old saying? Opinions are just like...? There are as many 'O's here as there are 'A's. G'nite.

I know stuff! Well maybe not that much stuff, but you know a couple of things. A person of my standing. Acualy now that I think about it I really don't know anything. Thanks now im sad and sitting in an unconfortable chair.

What really disturbed me the most in this segment was the idea expressed by the commentator that Dr. Heimlich was entitled to kill people with bogus treatments because his past work had saved lives. The complete absence of morality in this suggestion is beyond appalling; perhaps journalism school needs to add an ethics course or two?

The reality is that literally thousands have died because various Third World governments have preferred to try "alternative therapies" for AIDs instead of antivirals for purely political reasons. In South Africa the government refused to give antiviral drugs to people because AIDS was allegedly a result of poverty, and therefore the drugs were considered to be both ineffective and dangerous. In essence, lives were sacrificed in a political effort to obtain more financial aid from other nations.

Lack of confidence in "Western" medicine is an affordable luxury for individuals in wealthy countries; it is devastating when it becomes national policy in any nation. Several African nations happily sacrificed their children to polio when it was decided by various leaders that polio immunizations were a Western plot to chemically sterilize children and prevent their reproducing in the future.

It is worth noting that the only nations that have permitted Heimlich to do human studies with malaria are nations where legal protections for individuals in research are essentially non-existent and governments are quite happy to "volunteer" their citizens for research projects.

What are the actual bio-chemical and physiological processes by which malaria *allegedly* cures AIDS? "Stimulates the immune system" seems impossibly vague to be science.

Excuse me.. this therapy has been known about for years. Back then it was called Malaria therapy. It is well known and proven to work. ABC news gets it all wrong (as usual). The Malaria parasite used is called varax malaria. It is a relatively harmless variant of malaria It can be cured quickly,and does in fact cause an immune system response. It has been used for other aliments with good result. I don't see why it cant be used against AIDS, unless the resulting "cytokine storm" would cause greater problems.I believe Dr. Heimlich is correct (again)

My grandson is 6 years old. 3 years ago I found him floating in our backyard pool. His eyes gray and open, skin felt like rubber and he was not breathing. I immediately begin CPR, it was not working, I did not know about the heimlich maneuever as a tool but something inside me made me take the back of my palm and shove it under his rib cage toward his back at the same time sitting him up quickly, I laid him back down and started CPR, suddenly water started shooting out and he started shallow breathing, paramedics arrived and took over, I know that if I hadn't done what I did, he would not be here today, no brain damage, only thing he has now is activity induced asthma, so back off this man, you don't know what you are talking about. If it wasn't for them heimlich than it was a miracle which I also believe it was.

If Dr Rosen had actually listened during CPR class, he would know that you do not do the Heimlich on an infant or child. As it is referred to now, abdominal thrusts, are only done on larger people. The thrusts are ina completely different area for infants or smaller children. That goes for smaller elderly as well.
They are referred to as abdominal thrusts now in AHA classes, as the good Dr wanted royalties for using his name. I am CPR Faculty member and instructor-trainer. If done within guidelines, there is no danger. This has been studied internationally by people with a whole lot more horsepower than Dr Rosen.
Malaria as a cure for AIDS? Sounds like Heimlich has a disease discovered by another German speaker; Alzheimer's.

All the Malaria talk is good but what this is really about is the destruction of a family by a spoiled brat. Did anyone ask what Peter does for a living? Also missed is the fact that he is being sued by a Chicago not-for-profit that teaches kids first aid because he conspired to trash their reputation for teaching the Heimlich maneuver. And he's "concerned" about the lives of people? Give me a break!!

Peter Heimlich and his wife Karen have a website which includes considerable additional information and links to numerous published articles. Just Google his name.

I don't know how to trust what any medical scientist says anymore. Seems to me most of them get paid to say what ever is going to make the corporations rich. His idea may be the cure for aides or maybe not but how can we really know unless you are a medical scientist yourself who cannot be bought. Lot's of people are are paid big bucks to trash others for the almighty dollar.

In 2006 the American Red Cross stopped teaching the Heimlich maneuver as the first response for choking. They now teach backblows as the first response. If backblows fail, rescuers are taught to proceed to "abdominal thrusts." (The Red Cross no longer uses the term Heimlich maneuver.)

It's interesting to note that early in the 20th century a doctor was called a quack with crackpot ideas for his new research. He even had to experiment on himself because he wasn't allowed to further his studies... Thank God that he ignored all the "scientific" and medical rhetoric against him. Many people are alive today because of his crackpot idea we call insulin.
As well, a renowned news agency recently reported on a pharmaceutical company who developed a cure for a particular type of cancer. They are no longer producing this life saving drug... Why? Not enough money in it. They have enough for 16 people or so to live. The rest will have to die, unless they travel to Canada where crap like that would land the owners in prison. Don't kid yourselves, it's all about the money for the stock holders with the American pharmaceuticals.

Once again, Dr. Heimlich, or in this case, friends of Dr. Heimlich, are putting out a call for anecdotal "evidence" as to the effectiveness of the maneuver for choking--this is how, years ago, Dr. Heimlich managed to, some would say in a way force, the AHA years ago to advise using the maneuver rather than backblows to assist a choking victim.

He then went on to wage an intense media campaign against backblows, calling them "death blows," when in fact, there was no evidence, other than his data, to support this contention.

The ARC recently changed to a backslaps-first protocol after the most recent internation conference on CPR (choking was also addressed at this conference). There, it was determined, as far as the evidence would allow, that backblows, chest thrusts and the maneuver were equally effective at dislodging an object, but that more than one technique might be needed. And when more than one technique is needed, administering backblows first improved the effectiveness of whatever method followed.

The problem with the maneuver is that is can, and has, caused significant damage to various organs, etc, such as ruptured livers, spleens, aortas, etc. In fact, the AHA guidelines advise that anyone receiving the maneuver be checked out by a doctor to rule out internal damage. They make no such suggestion for those receiving either backblows or chest thrusts.

Cincinnati Magazine ran an article on this very issue. You can find a PDF on Peter's website.

To Mike (Jun 10, 2007 8:47:17 AM) re: your post about the "Chicago not-for-profit that teaches kids first aid."

That organization is called the Save-A-Life Foundation. They and Dr. Henry Heimlich have been the subject of four recent ABC7 Chicago exposes by Chuck Goudie. He's the top investigative reporter in town.

Just Google some keywords like "Save-A-Life" and "Goudie" - you can find the ABC reports which are excellent hard-hitting reporting about the organization's founder claiming fake medical credentials, Dr. Heimlich being asked to resign from the organization, and the group getting millions of dollars in federal and state funding, being hooked up with lots of politicians, etc.

Mike, thanks for bringing this to everybody's attention. Maybe now Brian Ross will want to do the story!

Seems like an argument is being missed on the maleriotheropy idea. What about those with AIDS and Sickle Cell Anemia? They just die? Sickle Cell Anemia is a NATURAL genetic mutation to combat malaria. Thing is, how dangerous is Sickle Cell? Are we saying people who have the sickle hemoglobin are immune to AIDS?

No. So wouldn't it be logical to find a cure that not only doesn't risk the life of the patient or at a minimum doesn't cause those that survive to suffer brain disease or paralysis, but one that can work on everybody, not just those genetically perfect?

Just think: Hanging yourself is the perfect cure all for anything ranging from depression to AIDS and cancer, but is it the right thing to do? I don't see the logic in trading one condition's effects for another. I'd much rather be a person dying of AIDS and waiting for a cure than being a vegitable dying of AIDS waiting for a cure. Think I might appriciate it more knowing that I was cured.

To Second City Steve

Chuck Goudie??

Well it's pretty well known (at least in Chicago) that Chuck Goudie is PART of Save-A-Life's lawsuit because of his role in Peter Heimlich's eforts to destroy his dad. That you can certainly Google.

Good point though, I agree since Chuck is with ABC and is involved in this whole Heimlich Family feud thing, it is odd that wasn't included in the 20/20 story.

Nothing against ABC but I really prefer Dave Savini (CBS)...his stories are not sensational but too many of Chuck Goudie's reports bounce back as false or personal or just contrived. The station has even had to issue retractions.

Anyway the Heimlich maneuver saves lives!! the family on the other hand..in the immortal words of Rodney King Why can't they just all get along?

Phooey out!

Peter has been estranged for years from the Heimlich family. His bitterness has caused him to attack his father's work without cause. Like all scientists, not all his theories will eventually prove to save lives. Peter is obviously attacking his father in an attempt to gain his own "fifteen minutes of fame". Interesting he has waited till now. What's next for Peter- a book deal?

I think Dr. Heimlich should try and use malaria to treat dementia, because that's exactly what he has IMO.

This is plain quackery. Malaria has NOTHING to do with "cure for HIV". The two arise from completely different causative pathogenic agents and if Malaria supposedly stimulates the body to produce more cell-mediated response well there's bad news for you, HIV targets/replicates INSIDE of CD4 cells so there's no point. I appreciate the man for his manuever that's saved many but I think he needs to be re-educated about the body's immune system.