It’s time for you to owe the bleeding disorders community an apology.
When I share that my son has hemophilia, I usually get the same predictable questions: Is he a descendant of a Russian Czar? Nope! Will he outgrow it? Not a chance! Can you wrap him in bubble wrap? Well, I’ve thought about it! But never has anyone asked, “Isn’t that a condition caused by incest?” And yet, thanks to a recent episode of ABC’s Secrets and Lies, where a character quipped, “Hemophilia is the nasty byproduct of incest,” I now have to face that dreadful misunderstanding.
I understand that television thrives on drama and sensationalism, but this statement crosses a line. Writers would never dare to claim, “Homosexuality is a nasty byproduct of incest,” or “AIDS/HIV is a nasty byproduct of incest.” Such comments would spark outrage! So why did ABC’s Secrets and Lies find it acceptable to spread such harmful misinformation about hemophilia?
Did the writers assume that, since hemophilia is a rare genetic disorder impacting about 1 in 5,000 male births, the public wouldn’t catch the error? Or perhaps they believed that the bleeding disorders community, consisting of around 20,000 families across the nation, wouldn’t have the means to protest this egregious mischaracterization? Maybe they simply didn’t bother to Google it?
A quick online search would reveal that hemophilia primarily affects males due to its X chromosome link. The Hemophilia Federation of America states that around 400 babies are born with hemophilia each year in the U.S. and that it affects individuals across all races and socioeconomic backgrounds. There’s no mention of incest being a factor in any reputable source!
Jill Anderson, a respected voice in the hemophilia community, expressed her dismay: “It’s unbelievable that in this day and age, with so much information available, ABC would allow this to happen. They need to correct this misinformation in a meaningful way.”
Last I checked, there were over 3,000 signatures on a Change.org petition demanding a public video apology from ABC, and that number keeps climbing thanks to social media.
With March being Hemophilia Awareness Month, this would be a perfect opportunity for ABC to acknowledge their mistake, apologize, and lend their support to the many families affected by bleeding disorders.
For further insights into bleeding disorders, check out the Hemophilia Federation of America or The National Hemophilia Foundation. And if you’re interested in exploring family-building options, this post on home insemination kits could be helpful. You may also want to visit this excellent resource on fertility insurance, which can be invaluable in your journey.
In conclusion, it’s essential for media outlets to exercise responsibility when portraying medical conditions. Misinformation can have dire consequences, and it’s about time that ABC steps up to make things right.