And the Band Played On is a film released in 1993 that highlights the AIDS epidemic that occurred in 1982 in San Francisco, California. Essentially, the film revolves around dedicated medical professionals who wish to understand the reasoning behind a new, serious and mysterious disease that is killing the population at a rapid rate. Epidemiologist Don Francis, a member of the Center for Disease Control, discovers a rapid and increasing death rate among gay men, which motivated him to investigate the cause and reasoning for this. After investigation, it is discovered that this disease is known as the current AIDS virus and he tries to study the nature of the disease and how it can be treated. Originally, it was believed that the disease only affected the gay population, which explained its limited attention and minimal importance in the eyes of the public and government. The film really emphasizes the struggles of minority populations and how their health is compromised and at risk. It gives viewers an inside look at the struggles faced by affected victims and those working to find a cure or cause of the disease. Furthermore, the film tackles a negligent government that turns a blind eye to the controversy, as well as challenging bureaucracy and governance differences. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay While watching this film, I had to shift my attention from the 21st century to 1900, when diseases like AIDS were still in vogue in childhood, with little research or evidence. It is helpful to watch films made in different time periods as it allows us to learn from the mistakes of the past and offers a very stark contrast to the existing healthcare field we have today. Furthermore, by watching this film, I understood how the government plays a crucial role in the healthcare field as it is extremely difficult for researchers and medical professionals to achieve their goals when they have limited resources and a limited budget. We begin to see Dr. Francis' frustration and anger at the narrow vision displayed by the CDC and government officials. “How many dead hemophiliacs do you need? How many people have to die for you to do something cost-effectively? Hundred? Thousand? Give us a number so we won't bother you anymore...", says a frustrated Doctor Francis as he faces the reality of having to face this gruesome epidemic alone and with the ignorance of public opinion. In the film, the government did not pay attention to the issue of the epidemic, which cost many lives and wasted a lot of precious time. Instead, the government could have taken the necessary steps to help save lives and provide professionals with the resources they needed to learn more about this disease and ways to prevent its spread. This film really highlights how difficult it is to get a bill passed and how challenging it can be to persuade the government to act on different policies. Ethics play a huge role in today's healthcare system, but you can see throughout the film that it wasn't vitally important back then. Several principles such as beneficence, integrity, honesty, confidentiality and patient autonomy are key principles in maintaining a healthy and ethical relationship with our customers and the public. The film showed many instances of continued lack of ethical decisions related to public health, resulting in the ultimate downfall of the population. Dr. Robert Gallo was a well-known scientist who had received numerous awards congratulating his success in the medical field. He transformed into a fame-hungry individual who desired public recognition, success, and money. His reputation.
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