South African court bans AIDS medication

A South African court banned unauthorised trials of vitamin therapies for AIDS, which some say are a health risk.



The High Court in Cape Town ruled against German physician Matthias Rath and US doctor David Rasnick, a former advisor to President Thabo Mbeki.



The case was brought by the pressure group the Treatment Action Campaign and the South African Medical Association.



They accused Dr. Rath of conducting illegal trials among poor communities.



Matthias Rath and his Rath Foundation promote vitamin pills and minerals, which they say can reverse the development of HIV/AIDS.



Critics said Dr. Rath\'s work has led to unnecessary deaths when HIV-positive people stopped using anti-retroviral drugs.