David J. Acer (November 11, 1949 – September 3, 1990) was an American dentist who allegedly infected six of his patients, including Kimberly Bergalis, with HIV.

Students and professors regarded Acer as a shy but solid individual who rarely missed a class and seldom partook in party antics on campus.

Greenhill told the Palm Beach Post[8] that she had wanted him to autoclave his dental instruments, though he did routinely steam clean them.

She told the paper that Acer did not make any extra effort towards the enforcement of universal precautions, despite CIGNA'S procedural manual for dentists covered this very subject, which included the use of masks and gloves while treating patients.

The CDC concluded on July 27, 1990, that based on epidemiologic and laboratory findings, it was possible that Acer transmitted the HIV virus from himself to Bergalis.

The Acer controversy started a great debate in the country regarding whether healthcare workers were obligated to disclose their HIV status to patients.

[9] In response to public outcry, the AMA and ADA urged HIV-positive practitioners to disclose their status to patients or to stop performing surgeries.

[10] The CDC had closed and published its investigation in July 1990 without further verification or follow-up, but litigation against Acer's malpractice insurance continued through the 1990s.

Depositions, private investigator reports, and medical records were leaked to journalist Stephen Barr writing for Lear's Magazine.

Finally, Bergalis developed AIDS two years after her treatment by Acer, but only 1 percent of patients go from infection to illness that quickly.

[11] In context, the Ryan White CARE Act was being debated in Congress, but it was met with opposition because HIV infection was perceived to be caused by stigmatizing risk factors such as homosexuality, substance use, and sexual promiscuity.

Testifying to Congress, Bergalis claimed "I did nothing wrong" and legislators were moved by the story of a white self-proclaimed virgin victimized by a reckless gay man.

[12] The case of the "Florida Dracula Dentist" has gone down in AIDS history alongside "Patient Zero" Gaetan Dugas as legends who have been unfairly demonized.

Reigns' research papers are now held at ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives at the University of Southern California Libraries.