On Wednesday, September 29, 2010, the National Hemophilia Foundation joined with the Hemophilia Federation of America (HFA), the Committee of Ten Thousand, the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH), and the Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC), to host a screening of the documentary "Bad Blood: A Cautionary Tale," in Washington, DC. The film, written, produced and directed by Marilyn Ness, explores the development of plasma protein therapies and the impact contaminated blood has had on the bleeding disorders community since the 1980s. Through interviews and archival footage, the film illustrates the mistakes of the past and the lasting effect on individuals and families. Attending the screening were local bleeding disorders community members, care givers, activists and congressional staff.
Following the screening, Kimberly Haugstad, executive director of HFA; Nathan Schaefer, GMHC director of public policy; Mark Skinner, president of WFH; and Jan M. Bult, president of the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association, joined Ness on stage for a panel discussion. After sharing their thoughts on the movie and the existing blood collection system, they responded to questions and comments from the audience. A lively discussion took place, particularly around the issues of pharmaceutical industry responsibility and current blood donation policies. NHF will continue to use "Bad Blood" to raise awareness and initiate conversations about blood supply safety.
