When I share that my son has hemophilia, I often encounter similar questions. “Is he connected to a Russian ruler?” No, he’s not. “Will he outgrow it?” No, he won’t. “Can you wrap him in bubble wrap?” While the thought has crossed my mind more than once, the answer is still no! However, never has anyone asked me, “Isn’t that a condition caused by incest?”
This all changed with a recent episode of ABC’s Secrets and Lies that aired on March 16, where a character played by Michael Beach claimed, “Hemophilia is the nasty byproduct of incest.” Now, I find myself having to explain to my son that he is not a product of incest.
I understand that television networks aim for high ratings to drive profits. I also recognize that writers use creative license to enhance fictional narratives. But what I cannot comprehend is why the writers felt it was acceptable to make such a baseless and damaging assertion about hemophilia.
They would never allow a character to say, “Homosexuality is a nasty byproduct of incest,” or “AIDS/HIV is a nasty byproduct of incest.” Statements like these would spark outrage across the country. So why did the writers of Secrets and Lies think it was permissible to disseminate such a harmful and inaccurate claim about hemophilia?
Could it be that they believed the general public wouldn’t notice the misinformation because hemophilia is a rare genetic disorder, affecting approximately 1 in 5,000 males? Perhaps they assumed the bleeding disorder community, which encompasses around 20,000 families in the U.S., wouldn’t have the means to challenge such a misrepresentation? Or could it simply be ignorance on their part, as they failed to utilize the vast resources available online?
A quick 30-second search for “hemophilia” on Google led me to the Hemophilia Federation of America, where I found the following definition: “It primarily affects males, as it is linked to the X chromosome. Hemophilia occurs in 1 in 5,000 male births in the U.S., with around 400 babies diagnosed each year. Globally, around 400,000 individuals live with hemophilia, including approximately 20,000 in the United States. This disorder transcends race and socioeconomic status, and individuals with proper access to factor replacement therapy can expect a normal life expectancy.”
Nowhere in this definition is there any mention of incest as a cause for hemophilia. The misinformation presented in Secrets and Lies is not only reckless but deeply damaging. If it was the intent of the writers to malign the entire bleeding disorders community, they have succeeded.
Jill Parker, a respected figure in the hemophilia community, expressed her outrage: “It’s appalling that in this age of information, ABC would allow such inaccuracies. They must correct this mistake in a significant way. They have the chance to heal the wound inflicted on our community.”
As of now, over 3,000 individuals have signed a Change.org petition urging ABC to release a public video apology. This number is rapidly increasing, fueled by social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
With March being Hemophilia Awareness Month, this presents an ideal opportunity for ABC to acknowledge their error, apologize, and become a supportive ally to the many families affected by bleeding disorders. For additional insights on bleeding disorders, you can explore the Hemophilia Federation of America or the National Hemophilia Foundation.
In summary, ABC’s portrayal of hemophilia in Secrets and Lies is not just inaccurate, but it perpetuates harmful stereotypes. As members of the bleeding disorders community, we deserve acknowledgment and respect from media outlets, especially when they have the power to influence public perception.