Unspeakable

Blood tests show that his clotting factor

- is very low. - What does that mean?

Have you heard of hemophilia?

There's a new disease emerging

in the gay community in the U.S.

This new concentrate that Ryan is taking,

it's pooled from how many blood donors?

Is it 20,000?

I'd like to switch Ryan back to Cryo.

I am the medical professional here.

The odds of getting AIDS from blood in Canada

are one in a million.

Lawrence Hartley, treasurer.

Uh, William Sanders, concerned father.

I need a quote highlighting the dangers

of AIDS transmission through blood.

I've said all I can.

Will you test my son?

This does not mean

that Peter is sick, or is ever going to get sick.

Andy has AIDS.

Andy and Peter take the same concentrate.

I know.

Why didn't you guys tell me I have AIDS?

I heard you talking.

Peter, where are you going?

- Peter! - Andy passed away.

I don't care what you guys say, I know I'm gonna die.

_

Well, that's coming along.

I certainly have the time.

So, what's that, then?

Oh, just something to help his blood to clot a bit better.

Is something wrong?

He's doing just fine.

Better to be safe than sorry, right?

- _ - I appreciate what you're doing.

Aw... it's my job.

Not at 10:00 at night.

I know you have a family.

Yeah, well, this is important.

Somehow you managed to wrangle a budget

for AIDS awareness.

- Small as it is. - Well, as far as I know,

no other city in Canada is doing anything.

Help! Help!

Hey! Hey!

Jesus...

Call 9-1-1!

Hold still, hold still.

Help is on the way.

Hey, hey, be careful.

Yeah. Yeah, you're right.

Okay, just... Just put your head back, all right?

I'm gonna put some pressure on this, okay?

Look at that.

- It's just awful. - Take it easy.

- _ - Don't move...

_

It's in American blood,

and Canadian hemophiliacs are being forced to take it.

What do you want me to do?

At least inform people of the risks.

You should be telling them to switch to Cryo,

and curtail use unless absolutely necessary.

The MSAC decides what goes into the newsletters.

Yeah, and they're saying, "American recall action

is a sign of careful monitoring of blood products

and should not cause anxiety or changes in treatment."

- Gimme a break! - I know.

You said things would change now that you're president.

- I know! - Come on, Lawrence,

put a Red Cross sign in the window!

You need to figure out which side you're on.

I know whose side I'm on, Will!

Then start fighting for us.

_

One boy is already dead!

We don't exactly know what happened to Andy.

Andy wasn't gay,

He wasn't an intravenous drug user.

He got AIDS from taking the same blood product

that our son is taking!

Why won't you admit there's real danger here?

Look, nobody ever said that concentrate was risk-free.

There's always a threat of viral transmission.

Hepatitis, for example.

The study Dr. Tsoukas is running right now,

it doesn't prove anything.

And low T-cells don't mean that Peter has AIDS,

or that he's going to get AIDS.

Treating Peter's hemophilia,

that's the priority for us right now.

Don't panic, and please...

don't publish anything,

or discuss Peter's test results

with other patients.

I know Mrs. Girard is very upset right now,

I know, and she has every right to be.

She's grieving for her son...

So am I.

So is my son,

who is in the next room,

fully convinced he's going to die.

We really don't know

what any of this stuff means yet.

I am here for you if you need anything.

Anything.

_

The Hemophilia Society's Medical Advisory Committee

is making recommendations to physicians

about curtailing the use of concentrate

in favour of Cryo.

Not across the board.

Only in certain cases like newly diagnosed.

Strawczynski's just following the American lead.

People are losing their sense.

There is still no proof.

For all we know,

concentrates are safer than Cryo.

If there is some viral contamination,

it would be diluted in the concentrate.

You get a dose of Cryo from a donor with AIDS,

the exposure would be much worse.

If this trend back to Cryo continues,

immense revenues are going to be lost

by the fractionators.

Can we even support production

of a full-scale switch back to Cryo?

Hey, homo!

Girard's mom's going around telling everyone

he died of AIDS.

Shut up.

Make me.

You want some, asshole?

You're a goddamn headcase, man!

_

He was spray-painting "God hates fags"

on the front window.

I told him to stop.

_

He attacked me.

Are you gay?

What does that have to do with it?

It's going to come up.

He's been charged with aggravated assault.

Look, this is not about the money.

You're trying to make a point,

and I get that,

and it's absolutely a point worth making,

but...

if you're not willing

to put yourself at the centre of this,

you'd better think twice.

Come on, Ryan!

Let's look alive out there!

Go!

I've got it! I've got it!

Ryan?

Okay, time out, time out...

Hey...

Dad!

You should've seen the catch I made.

Yeah, I heard. You, uh, you okay?

There's nothing broken, thank God,

but they're trying to give him concentrate.

He's a resident. I told him he takes Cryo only.

He's calling his supervisor.

But he's okay, right? Nothing...

nothing's broken, so...

- Can you walk? - They said he has a deep contusion.

He needs a shot.

Well, we've got Cryo at home.

Let's, um...

treat him there ourselves.

It was a really good catch.

Dad's not gonna let me play anymore, is he?

Your father and I make these decisions together.

We'll talk about it tomorrow.

Get some sleep.

That could have been much worse.

You think I don't know that?

17 reported deaths in Canada.

So who knows how many actual cases.

It's here.

It's in Toronto.

And Cryo is safer than concentrate,

but it is not safe.

Every time he takes a shot,

it's like playing Russian roulette,

and every day there are more bullets in the gun.

So I asked our local blood centre

if I could donate my blood specifically for my son's Cryo,

and I was refused.

And now you're here

looking for special treatment?

As a matter of fact, yes.

I'm willing to pay for any additional cost...

It's not possible.

We simply can't accommodate everyone,