«Dallas Buyers Club (2013)» clinical research with drugs for the AIDS epidemic 80

Abstract

Dallas Buyers Club (2013), inspired by true events, tells the story of Ron Woodroof, a middle?aged elec? trician from Dallas (Texas), who is diagnosed with AIDS in 1985. With few treatment options, he estab? lishes the Dallas Buyers Club in order to provide unapproved drugs to the AIDS community. This results in constant business travels, disputes with the FDA and problems with the law and the IRS. The article analyzes the buyers’ clubs phenomenon in the US, the drugs cited in the film and the clinical trial with zidovudine shown in the movie. The film could be useful as a teaching tool providing an introduction to the AIDS epidemic, clinical research and drug development, bioethics of human research and the agen? cies that regulate drug approval and their availability. Finally, the article presents a possible guideline for the use of the film in a teaching environment.

Keywords

• history of medicine
• motion pictures
• trauma
• violence
• wounds and injuries
• historia de la medicina
• cine
• traumatismo
• violencia
• heridas
• lesiones