Description: Meg Vaillancourt reports that a disproportionate number of African Americans have been infected with the HIV/AIDS virus. Vaillancourt reports that higher rates of transmission in the African American community are due to behavioral factors. Vaillancourt analyzes the differences in AIDS transmission between the white community and the African American community. Footage of Denise Cartier-Bennia giving a talk on educating people about AIDS in the African American community. Vaillancourt quotes statistics concerning HIV/AIDS infection rates. Report is accompanied by footage of African American residents of Roxbury and footage from interviews with people on the street.
1:00:07: Visual: A reporter on conducts interviews with African American men and women. An African American man says that he is "scared to death." An African American woman says that she doesn't know if "it is stronger on the white end or if it's stronger on the black end." Another African American man at Downtown Crossing says that no African American stars have died of AIDS; that he fears the development of an"unwarranted stigma" on the African American community due to AIDS. Shots of African Americans walking on a commercial street. Meg Vaillancourt reports that a disproportionate number of African Americans have been diagnosed with AIDS in the US. V: A chart list statistics on screen. The statistics read that 25% of AIDS victims are African American. Vaillancourt reports that African Americans represent 12% of the population. Shot of an African American woman with her back to the camera. Statistics read that African American women are 13 times more likely to get AIDS than white women; that Hispanic women are 11 times more likely to get AIDS than white women. Shots of an African American infant being examined by a white female doctor. Statistics read that 82% of infants with AIDS are African American; that 91% of infants with AIDS are non-white. Footage of Denise Cartier-Bennia (professor) saying that AIDS is affecting whole families in the African American community. Shot of a group of African Americans waiting for public transportation. Vaillancourt reports that the mode of transmission for AIDS is different in African American and white communities. V: Statistics read that homosexual/bisexual AIDS patients are 73%white, 16% African American and 11% Hispanic. Statistics read that heterosexual AIDS patients are 50% African American, 25% Hispanic and 25% white. Footage of Cartier-Bennia speaking. Shots of a group of African American teenagers crossing an urban street; of a drug user preparing a dose of heroin. Vaillancourt reports that Cartier-Bennia has studied the factors contributing to the high rate of AIDS in the African American community. V: Statistics read that African American women are 5 times more likely to get AIDS from contact with a drug user than from contact with a bisexual man. Shot of a group of African Americans boarding an MBTA bus. Vaillancourt reports that the immigration of infected immigrants from Haiti and Africa may be escalating the problem. V: Shots of military recruits laying down barbed wire in a field. Statistics read that 0.9 out of 1000 white military recruits test positive for the AIDS antibody; that 3.9 out of 1000 African American military recruits test positive for the AIDS antibody. Footage of Cartier-Bennia talking about the appearance of the AIDS antibody in military recruits. Cartier-Bennia says that one out of every 250 recruits was infected; that 10% to 30% of these recruits will eventually develop AIDS. Cartier-Bennia says that the African American community is in a "precarious position." Vaillancourt reports from a street corner. Groups of African Americans wait for public transportation across the street. Vaillancourt notes that AIDS is not an African American disease; that behavior creates the risk of transmission, not race. V: Footage of Cartier-Bennia saying that risky behavior leads to aids; that knowledge may be the most effective weapon against AIDS; that African American and Hispanic politicians have been silent on the subject of AIDS and the minority community. Shot of a group of African Americans boarding an MBTA bus. Footage of Cartier-Benia talking about the unwillingness of African American churches to discuss AIDS. Shot of an African American man crossing a street. Footage of Cartier-Bennia saying that AIDS is another problem which needs to be tackled by minority communities if they want to survive into the year 2000. Shots of African American children; of African Americans on the street; of African Americans waiting for public transportation.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 04/17/1987
Description: Doctor in a research lab at MIT, going through the process of making artificial skin. Shots of the machines used. Editor's note: Content given off the record was edited out of this footage.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 07/27/1984
Description: Deborah Wang reports that Boston City Hospital offers a weekly Failure to Thrive Clinic for malnourished children. A team of doctors, nurses and psychologists treat the children and talk to their families. Wang reviews the symptoms and effects of malnourishment. Health care workers treating patients at the Failure to Thrive Clinic. Interview with Dr. Deborah Frank of Boston City Hospital about malnourishment and its effect on children. Frank talks about the importance of the clinic to the lives of children. Frank examines children at the clinic. Wang reports that malnourished children are often victims of poverty and that some are neglected or abused. 80% of children attending the clinic have stabilized or improved their condition. Staff meeting of clinic employees. A health care worker talks about the improved condition of one of his patients. Wang reports that there are six Failure to Thrive Clinics, but that the clinics are underfunded. She adds that some families in Boston are not yet receiving the necessary care for malnourishment. Following the edited story is additional footage of health care workers and patients at the Failure to Thrive Clinic.
1:00:05: Visual: Shots of young children playing with toys and magic markers in the waiting room of a health clinic. Shot of an African American infant on an examination table in a health clinic. Deborah Wang reports that some children in Boston show signs of malnourishment. V: Footage of Dr. Deborah Frank (Boston City Hospital) saying that undernourished children become lethargic and apathetic. Frank notes that the children in the waiting room are very quiet. Shots of an African American health care worker weighing an African American infant on a scale. Wang notes that undernourished children are small for their age; that undernourished children are often ill. V: Footage of Frank saying that malnutrition impairs the body's ability to fight infection. Frank says that undernourished children become sick more often; that each infection contributes to the malnourishment. Shots of health care workers measuring an infant's height. The infant lies on an examining table. Shots of the infant; of the health care workers. Shot of a health care worker putting a diaper on an infant. Wang reports that some malnourished infants are neglected or abused; that most malnourished children are victims of poverty. V: Footage of Frank being interviewed by Wang. Frank talks about a malnourished boy who was admitted with a case of pneumonia. Frank talks about the poor conditions under which many poor families live. Wang reports that the Boston City Hospital offers a weekly Failure to Thrive Clinic for malnourished children; that a team of doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers treat the children and talk to their families. V: Footage of a white female doctor in an examining room with an African American woman and a young African American girl. The doctor talks to the woman while filling out paperwork. The girl plays quietly in her chair. The doctor talks to the woman about meal times for the child. Footage of a meeting of employees at the Failure to Thrive Clinic. A white male health care worker talks about an infant who has gained weight after attending the clinic. Wang reports that the program has been a success; that 80% of the children attending the clinic have stabilized or improved their conditions. V: Shot of a Latina woman and young boy in an examining room. The woman wipes the boy's face. The boy draws with magic markers. Footage of Frank saying that the hospitals resources are stretched thin. Frank notes that there are families in Boston who are not receiving services. Wang reports that the Failure to Thrive Clinic has a $500,000 budget; that there are six Failure to Thrive Clinics. V: Shot of an African American health care worker taking the temperature of a young white boy. The boy sits on his mother's lap. Shots of an African American girl at the clinic; of a Latino boy drawing with a magic marker; of an African American infant on an examing table; of an African American child holding a stuffed doll. Audio of Frank saying that society needs to reassess its priorities; that these children are the next generation of US citizens. Frank says that society will pay a higher price in the future if these children are not treated now.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 11/30/1988
Description: Dr. Gloria White-Hammond (pediatrician) examines a young Latina child in an examining room. The child cries and White-Hammond comforts her, speaking in English and in Spanish. White-Hammond speaks to the child's mother about treatments for the child. White-Hammond examines the child with a stethoscope. Interview with White-Hammond about a program designed to increase the number of African American physicians across the nation. She says that medical schools lack the financial, academic and other kinds of support necessary to retain some students. She discusses the need for more minority physicians, who bring a "sensitivity" to the treatment of minority patients. Video cuts out and then comes back with stills of infographics on new Boston University medical school program and minority doctors.
1:03:41: V: The camera crew sets up a shot of the doctor examining the child. The child begins to cry. White-Hammond examines the rash on the child's leg. The child grows upset as she sits on the examining table. The child's mother removes her dress. White-Hammond comforts the child in Spanish. White-Hammond examines the child with a stethoscope. White-Hammond tries to comfort the child as she cries. 1:06:32: V: White-Hammond talks to Callie Crossley (WGBH reporter) and the camera crew. Crossley asks White-Hammond her opinion on a program designed to increase the number of African American physicians across the nation. White-Hammond says that she is not very familiar with the program; that the program sounds like a good idea. Crossley explains some of the features of the program. Crossley notes that the program eliminates the MCAT entrance exam for medical school. White-Hammond says that the program has potential; that the structure of the program and the selection process will be important. White-Hammond says that medical schools lack the kind of support system needed to retain some students; that financial, academic and other kinds of support are necesssary for students to do well in medical school. White-Hammond says that the medical field needs more minority doctors; that minority patients request to be treated by minority doctors. White-Hammond says that minority doctors bring a "sensitivity" to the treatment of minority patients; that many minority students have the intellectual capability and the determination to become successful doctors. Crossley closes the interview.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 06/28/1984
Description: Reviewing opinions on the dangers of boxing and risk of brain damage. Scenes of bowers training and sparring in the ring at Connolly's Gym. Interview with doctor Francis Rocket on the danger of brain damage. Interview with Boxing Commissioner James McCarin, using Muhammad Ali as an example of a boxer affected by brain damage from the sport. Footage of Ali, he slurs his speech. Boxing can also cause blindness. Interview with eye doctor Edward Ryan. Gym owner Jim Connolly defends boxing in comparison to other more dangerous sports like hockey and football.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 10/31/1986
Description: Silent footage of a woman being treated for cancer in a large machine.
Collection: WHDH
Date Created: 12/07/1970
Description: Sidney Farber press conference at Anthony's Pier. Silent footage of Farber is talking. Farber shaking hands with folks. Farber at the podium taking questions about funding for cancer research and talks about great progress in the past 20 year and about progress in chemotherapy and molecular biology. He says the country has never been in this good of a position before in terms of labs to do research. Another man talks at the podium.
Collection: WHDH
Date Created: 09/18/1969
Description: Exteriors of Harvard Medical School, Longwood Campus. Main building with ionic columns on Shattuck Street. A few students in front of the building. Countway library next door. Audio goes in and out throughout.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 05/17/1976
Description: Parents and infants in the lobby of a health care center. Rebecca Rollins reports that many Massachusetts state legislators have said that the state's rising infant mortality rate is a priority. State Rep. John McDonough and State Sen. Edward Burke were the only two of seventeen members of the Legislative Health Care Committee attended a recent meeting on the infant mortality rate. Rollins notes that some legislators said that they were not aware of the meeting. Interviews with Burke and Dr. Jean Taylor of the Roxbury Comprehensive Community Health Center. Taylor says that the all of the members of the committee would have attended if the subject were white infant mortality. Rollins notes that the infant mortality rate is three times higher in the African American community than in the white community. Rollins reports that any legislation related to infant mortality will most likely be written by Burke and McDonough.
1:00:02: Visual: Footage of a health care worker speaking to an African American woman in the lobby of a health care center. The man holds an infant on his lap. Shot of the infant. Rebecca Rollins reports that African American infants in the Boston area are three times more likely than white babies to die in their first year. Rollins reports that many Massachusetts state legislators have said that the state's rising infant mortality rate is a priority. Rollins reports that the Legislative Health Care Committee gave its full attention to the issue of insurance; that the infant mortality issue did not get the same attention. V: Shots of legislators at a meeting of the Legislative Health Care Committee. Rollins reports that there are seventeen members of the Legislative Health Care Committee; that only two members were present at recent hearings on the rising infant mortality rate. V: Shots of black and white photos of the members of the Legislative Health Care Committee, including state representatives Athan Catjakis, Marjorie Claprood, Sherwood Guernsey, Robert Howarth, Frank Hynes, Joseph McIntyre, John McNeiil, Chester Suhoski. Shot of a black and white photo of John McDonough (State Representative). Rollins reports that McDonough and Edward Burke (State Senator) were the only two members who attended the hearings. V: Footage of Burke being interviewed in his office. Burke says that he does not know why other members were prevented from attending the hearings. Rollins says that most of the fifteen legislators were unavailable for comment. V: Shots of black and white photos of state senators on the Legislative Health Care Committee, including Senators Louis Bertonazzi, Robert Buell, John Houston and Thomas White. Shot of a black and white photo of Robert Howarth (State Representative). Rollins reports that Howarth said that he was not aware of the meetings. V: Shot of a black and white photo of John Bartley (State Representative). Rollins reports that Bartley said that he thought the meeting had been scheduled for the day after the primary election. Rollins reports that Bartley said that he had no intention of attending the meeting. Rollins notes that Bartley called back later to say that he had never been notified of the meeting. V: Footage of Burke being interviewed in his office. Burke says that the members were probably notified about the hearings. Burke says that notifications were sent out from his office and from the office of the House Chairman of the committee. Rollins reports that Dr. Jean Taylor (Roxbury Comprehensive Community Health Center) testified at both hearings. V: Footage of Taylor being interviewed by Rollins. Taylor says that all of the members of the committee would have attended the hearings if the subject was related to white infant mortality. Rollins stands in front of the Massachusetts State House. Rollins reports that the previous day's hearings were the final hearings on infant mortality for this year. Rollins notes that any legislation related to infant mortality will most likely be written by Burke and McDonough. Rollins notes that the absence of the fifteen legislators may have compromised progress in the state's health care system.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 10/16/1990
Description: Exteriors of pharmacy owned by Benjamin Schumann. Several takes of reporter standup on forms that might become required for pharmacists serving welfare recipients.
Collection: WHDH
Date Created: 09/17/1969
Description: Interview with a pharmacist on new forms that might be required for pharmacists serving customers on welfare. They discuss the possibility of the boycott. Reporter reasks questions and takes cutaways for editing purposes.
Collection: WHDH
Date Created: 09/17/1969
Description: Seth Rolbein reports on a dramatic increase in syphilis cases in the late 1980s among women and people of color. Rolbein compares statistics on the incidence of syphilis cases among men and women in the white, Latino, and African American communities. Interviews with Dr. Tony Japour, a medical fellow in infectious disease; Barbara Neustadt, a registered nurse at Beth Israel Hospital; and Dr. Judith Steinberg of Boston City Hospital, about the latest epidemic of syphilis cases. Rolbein reports that the resurgence of cases can be traced to crack cocaine users, who may engage in sexual activity with multiple partners in crack houses. Rolbein notes that victims of syphilis may be at risk for HIV and AIDS. Rolbein's report is accompanied by clinical photos of syphilis patients and by footage of police officers investigating a crack house.
1:00:03: Visual: Shots of clinical photos of syphilis patients. The patients have severe skin lesions. Seth Rolbein reports that there has been an increase in syphilis cases. V: Footage of Dr. Tony Japour (medical fellow in infectious diseases) being interviewed by Rolbein. Japour says that syphilis was epidemic before 1945; that it was an epidemic among sexually active adults. Japour says that the disease declined after the discovery of penicillin; that penicillin cured syphilis. Japour says that after 1945, the disease declined from a rate of 70 cases per 100,000 people to 5 cases per 100,000 people. Rolbein reports that the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has compiled the latest figures for syphilis. Rolbein reports that there were 710 diagnosed cases of syphilis in 1986; that the number of syphilis cases grew steadily and then grew dramatically in 1990. Rolbein reports that more than 1700 new cases of syphilis were reported in 1990. V: An on-screen chart details the numbers of syphilis cases from 1986 to 1990. Shot of a bacteria culture. Rolbein reports that researchers had seen a dramatic growth in the number of syphilis cases only one time since the 1940s. V: Footage of Dr. Judith Steinberg (Co-director, Public Health Clinic, Boston City Hospital) being interviewed. Steinberg says that there were a high number of syphilis cases among white, homosexual men in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Rolbein reports that Barbara Neustadt (registered nurse, Public Health Clinic, Beth Israel Hospital) believes that there must be another population involved in the latest epidemic. V: Footage of Neustadt being interviewed by Rolbein. Neustadt says that the gay community in Boston has worked hard to educate community members about safe sex; that there has been a significant drop in all sexually transmitted diseases in the gay population. Footage of Japour being interviewed. Japour says that the disease is in an epidemic stage. Japour says that the number of cases among gay and bisexual white men has decreased dramatically; that the number of cases among people of color and women has increased dramatically. Rolbein reports that there was approximately one case per 100,000 people among white men and women under the age of twenty in Massachusetts in 1988 and 1989. Rolbein reports that the number of syphilis cases increased dramatically among African American men and women under the age of twenty in Massachusetts in 1988. Rolbein reports that the number of cases among African American men and women under the age of twenty doubled in 1989. Rolbein reports that there were 80 cases per 100,000 people among African American women under the age of twenty in 1989. Rolbein reports that there has been a dramatic increase of syphilis cases in the Massachusetts Latino community in 1988 and 1989. Rolbein reports that there were 135 cases per 100,000 people among Latina women under the age of twenty in 1989. Rolbein reports that statistics are comparable across the nation. V: An on-screen chart details statistics for the numbers of syphilis cases among men and women under the age of twenty in the white, African American, and Latino communities in Massachusetts in 1988 and 1989. Rolbein reports that medical investigators from Philadelphia, Connecticut and Massachusetts believe that crack cocaine is at the root of the epidemic. V: Shots of workers in a laboratory setting. An African American man hands a white bag over the counter. Shot of people walking on a street. Shot through the window of a car of a housing development. Shot of a bag of crack. Footage of Japour being interviewed. Japour says that there are crack houses where individuals sell sex for drugs. Japour says that crack houses are the equivalent of the "gay bath houses" of the 1970s. Japour says that crack makes people sexually aggressive; that clients of the crack houses may have several sexual encounters in the course of an evening. Rolbein says that syphilis is spreading quickly. V: Shots of police officers entering an apartment; of police investigating a room of an apartment. The floor of the room is strewn with trash. Footage of Neustadt being interviewed. Neustadt says that it is frightening to see young people with syphilis; that syphilis patients may eventually contract HIV and AIDS. Rolbein says that AIDS and syphilis are both spread through sexual contact; that syphilis is curable while AIDS is not. V: Shot of an AIDS prevention poster. Footage of Neustadt being interviewed. Neustadt says that the increase in syphilis probably reflects an imminent increase in HIV-positive people in Boston. Rolbein reports that the syphilis epidemic is moving away from the gay community; that the syphilis epidemic is affecting people of color and communities in the inner city. V: Shot of the entrance to Boston City Hospital.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 03/01/1991
Description: Alexandra Marks reports that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has reported that women are the fastest-growing segment of the HIV-positive population. Marks reports that many believe that the CDC has radically underestimated the number of women with AIDS. Interview with April Moore, a recovering drug addict, who has recently been diagnosed with AIDS, but has no health insurance and no steady job. A conference on women and AIDS was held in Boston recently. Interview with Jean McGuire of the Harvard School of Public Health and Martha Moon of the Fenway Community Health Center at the conference. McGuire and Moon believe that many women are dying of AIDS without being diagnosed. Moon says that the CDC definition of AIDS does not include the symptoms of female victims. McGuire and Moon say that many female victims are not eligible for medical benefits because they do not meet the CDC definition of the disease. The CDC says that there is not enough evidence to link the symptoms of women patients to AIDS. McGuire and Moon criticize the CDC's lack of initiative on the issue.
1:00:04: Visual: Footage of April Moore (recovering drug addict) walking with Alexandra Marks (WGBH reporter) through a local park. Moore and Marks sit down on some stairs outside of the playground. Marks reports that Moore is a former drug addict and prostitute who is now in recovery. Marks reports that Moore recently completed her GED (Graduate Equivalency Diploma); that Moore is looking forward to finding a job. Marks notes that Moore was diagnosed as HIV positive last year. V: Footage of Moore being interviewed by Marks. Moore says that she was in a state of disbelief when she found out about her condition; that she has known for a year now. Moore says that she does not know how long she has been infected with the HIV virus. Shots of Moore; of Marks. Marks reports that Moore is low-income, a minority and has no health insurance; that Moore is a typical woman with AIDS. Marks reports that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has said that women are the fastest-growing segment of the HIV population. Moore notes that the CDC estimates that women comprise 11% of the HIV population. Marks reports that some experts believe that the CDC radically underestimates the number of women infected. V: Footage of Jean McGuire (Harvard School of Public Health) being interviewed by Marks. McGuire says that women are dying before they are diagnosed with AIDS. McGuire says that the medical field does not have an accurate image of the AIDS population. McGuire says that the women who die without being diagnosed were never eligible for benefits like Medicaid and Social Security. Marks reports that McGuire spoke at a conference on women and AIDS in Boston today. Marks reports that McGuire believes that the CDC has a narrow definition of AIDS. V: Shots of the conference on women and AIDS. Shots of a small AIDS quilt hanging on a wall; of attendees and panelists at the conference. Footage of McGuire being interviewed by Marks. McGuire says that the CDC definition was constructed to track an epidemic; that the CDC definition is constructed around narrow presentations of the disease. McGuire says that the CDC wants to be sure that it is definitively tracking the disease. McGuire says that the CDC definition narrows the population to males with AIDS. Footage of Martha Moon (Fenway Community Health Center) being interviewed by Marks. Moon says that women develop symptoms unknown to men with the disease; that the symptoms of women are not counted in the CDC definition. Moon says that women with HIV experience chronic yeast infections, recurrent cervical cancer, uterine tumors, and other pelvic diseases. Marks reports that Moon is the clinical director of the Fenway Community Health Center; that the Fenway Community Health Center was the sponsor of the conference. V: Footage of Moon being interviewed by Marks. Moon says that surgery eliminates cervical cancer in most women; that some HIV-positive women have recurring bouts of cervical cancer. Moon says that some of these women are completely disabled by the disease; that they are not eligible for medical benefits because they do not meet the CDC definition of the disease. Marks quotes Thomas Skinner (CDC Spokesperson) as saying that "We established this case definition of AIDS for our surveillance purposes. We do not control the use of the definition by other government agencies." V: Skinner's quote appears written on-screen in text. Footage of McGuire being interviewed by Marks. McGuire says that Medicaid has relied on the CDC definition; that the CDC refuses to take responsibility for the reimbursement structure of the government agencies. McGuire says that HIV-positive women do not care which agency is responsible. Footage of Moore being interviewed by Marks. Marks asks Moore what she will do if Medicaid will not cover her medical bills if she becomes ill. Moore says that she has not thought about it; that she tries not to think about it because stress could make her become ill. Marks stands on Commonwealth Avenue. Marks reports that the CDC says that there is not enough medical evidence to link female opportunistic infections to AIDS; that the CDC refuses to change its definition. V: Footage of McGuire being interviewed by Marks. McGuire says that the CDC refuses to include some symptoms in its definition; that those symptoms are those which are experienced by poor people and people of color. McGuire says that poor people and people of color are those who will need benefits. McGuire wonders if the dynamics of race, gender and class have anything to do with the government's reluctance to move forward on the issue. Marks reports that Moore has been unaffected by this issue so far. V: Shots of Moore walking on Commonwealth Avenue with Marks. Audio of Moore saying that she must keep an open mind; that she must stay aware in order to remain alive. Footage of Marks being interviewed by Moore. Moore talks about being afraid.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 04/19/1991