When I share that my son has hemophilia, I often encounter a series of predictable questions. “Is he related to a Russian Czar?” No, he isn’t. “Will he outgrow it?” No, he won’t. “Can you bubble wrap him?” While that idea has crossed my mind, the reality is much more complex. However, no one has ever asked me, “Isn’t that a disease caused by incest?”
Yet, following an episode of ABC’s Secrets and Lies that aired on March 16th, where a character played by Michael Beach remarked, “Hemophilia is the nasty byproduct of incest,” I’ve heard it all. Perhaps ABC should have the uncomfortable discussion with my son to clarify that he is not a product of incest.
I understand that television often seeks to attract large audiences for financial gain and that writers utilize creative liberties to drive narratives. However, what I fail to comprehend is why such a harmful and inaccurate portrayal was deemed acceptable. It’s unlikely the writers would risk saying something similarly derogatory about other groups, such as “Homosexuality is a nasty byproduct of incest,” or “AIDS/HIV is a nasty byproduct of incest.” Such statements would undoubtedly provoke outrage.
So why did the writers of ABC’s Secrets and Lies feel it was acceptable to propagate such a grossly misleading and inflammatory statement about hemophilia? Did they assume that due to its rarity—affecting approximately 1 in 5,000 male births—the general public might not recognize the misinformation? Or perhaps they thought that the bleeding disorder community, comprising around 20,000 families nationwide, lacked the media presence to protest this damaging mischaracterization?
It’s also possible that the writers simply failed to conduct adequate research. A brief search of “hemophilia” on Google would have provided a wealth of information. In under 30 seconds, I found this definition from The Hemophilia Federation of America: “Hemophilia primarily affects males, as it is an X-linked condition. It impacts 1 in 5,000 male births in the U.S., with around 400 new cases annually. Approximately 400,000 people worldwide and around 20,000 in the U.S. live with hemophilia, affecting all races and economic backgrounds. Those with access to factor replacement therapy can expect a normal life expectancy.”
There is no mention of incest as a causative factor for hemophilia. The misinformation presented in ABC’s Secrets and Lies is not only incorrect but also damaging. If the intention was to defame the entire bleeding disorders community, that is a troubling question. Jill Anderson, a prominent leader in the hemophilia community, shared her thoughts on this unfortunate incident: “It’s appalling that in today’s age, with so much information available about hemophilia and bleeding disorders, ABC would allow this to occur. ABC must correct this misinformation in a significant and impactful manner. They have a chance to mend the harm inflicted on our community.”
At present, a petition on Change.org demanding a public video apology from ABC has garnered over 3,000 signatures, and that number is rapidly increasing thanks to social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. With March designated as Hemophilia Awareness Month, it would be an ideal moment for ABC to acknowledge their poor judgment, apologize, and become an ally to the thousands of families affected by bleeding disorders.
For further insights on bleeding disorders, consider visiting Hemophilia Federation of America or The National Hemophilia Foundation. Additionally, for those interested in home insemination options, check out Make a Mom’s resources on the topic and our privacy policy for more information.
In summary, ABC’s airing of a false statement regarding hemophilia is not only misleading but also harmful to those affected by this condition. The network has an obligation to rectify this situation and support the bleeding disorders community.