In 1993, And the Music Played on was released. It highlights the AIDS crisis that occurred in San Francisco California in 1982. The film is centered around a group of medical professionals who want to know the reason behind the rapid spread of a mysterious, new disease. Don Francis is an epidemiologist who works for the Center for Disease Control. He discovers that gay men are dying at a rapid rate, and he wants to find out why. Upon further research, he found that this is today’s AIDS virus. He is now studying the nature of the illness and how to treat it. The disease was initially thought to affect only gay men, explaining its low importance and lack of attention from the government and public. The film focuses on the health and safety of minorities and their struggles. The movie gives viewers a glimpse into the lives of those affected by the disease, as well as the efforts to cure it or find the cause. The film also addresses a government negligently turning a blindeye towards the dispute.
When I watched the movie, my mind was shifted from the present day to the past, where diseases like AIDS had just begun, and little evidence or research. Films from earlier times can help us learn and offer a different perspective on the current state of health. Through watching the movie, I realized how crucial the role of government is to the health industry. With limited resources, it’s difficult for doctors and researchers alike to reach their desired goals. Dr. Francis begins to show his frustration and anger at the narrow-mindedness of the CDC officials and the government. How many hemophiliacs are needed to make it cost-effective for you? How many hemophiliacs must die before you can afford to act? A hundred? A hundred? Give us a digit so we don’t bother you again …”, As Dr. Francis struggles to deal with this horrifying epidemic alone, he is frustrated by the lack of public awareness. The film shows that the government had no idea about the epidemic, which resulted in many deaths and wasted time. Instead, they could have taken steps to help save more lives and provide resources for professionals to research this disease. The film really highlighted the difficulty of getting a bill through and the challenges that can arise when trying to convince a government to change its policies.
The film shows that ethics was not as important back then. For us to maintain a healthy ethical relationship with both our clients and public, different principles are important. The film demonstrated many instances where ethical decisions were not made in relation to the public’s health. This led to the eventual downfall for the entire population. Dr. Robert Gallo is a well respected scientist who has received numerous awards for his work in medicine. He became a person who was obsessed with fame, money, and success. It was his desire to achieve personal success and gain that he valued more than the well-being of the general public. He was more concerned with proving his self-worth than saving the lives of others. Gallo’s agenda was pushed in an unethical way, and his only motivation was self-aggrandizement. Dr. Francis is more interested in identifying and stopping the virus. It is clear that the two characters have very different intentions when it comes to this virus. Prioritizing the safety and wellbeing of clients is the first priority when working in health care. The film shows that the government’s lack of morals led to the deaths of over a hundred thousand people.
