Kristen Davis

And when those patients are admitted, they are usually isolated and treated more like walking biohazards than as human beings. Actually, literal hazard signs are sometimes plastered on their hospital room doors. Meals are left in the hallway outside of their rooms. Basic care like changing their bed sheets or cleaning them goes undone out of this fear of being infected.

And when those patients are admitted, they are usually isolated and treated more like walking biohazards than as human beings. Actually, literal hazard signs are sometimes plastered on their hospital room doors. Meals are left in the hallway outside of their rooms. Basic care like changing their bed sheets or cleaning them goes undone out of this fear of being infected.

And Cliff is seeing all of this as a nurse. And then one day it hits even closer to home. He comes back from work to find his roommate Wayne collapsed on the hallway floor. Cliff says, quote, we had been talking a lot about the disease because it was just starting to make headlines. And I had a feeling that's what he had.

And Cliff is seeing all of this as a nurse. And then one day it hits even closer to home. He comes back from work to find his roommate Wayne collapsed on the hallway floor. Cliff says, quote, we had been talking a lot about the disease because it was just starting to make headlines. And I had a feeling that's what he had.

So for days, Cliff does everything he can to care for Wayne at home, but Wayne's condition doesn't improve. And it's not easy to find a hospital that can or will admit him, which is such a weird thing to think of. The place you're supposed to go when you're sick.

So for days, Cliff does everything he can to care for Wayne at home, but Wayne's condition doesn't improve. And it's not easy to find a hospital that can or will admit him, which is such a weird thing to think of. The place you're supposed to go when you're sick.

Or we're just going to, to protect ourselves, we're going to not admit you. Right. Sounds so familiar. Yeah. So Cliff reaches out to his colleagues at San Francisco General. He's finally given the name of a doctor who works out of a private hospital that will take Wayne.

Or we're just going to, to protect ourselves, we're going to not admit you. Right. Sounds so familiar. Yeah. So Cliff reaches out to his colleagues at San Francisco General. He's finally given the name of a doctor who works out of a private hospital that will take Wayne.

And there Cliff watches as his friend is rushed into an isolation room, surrounded by fearful staff, then shut away and left alone. When Cliff tries to go into that room, the medical staff stops him. They warn him that it's too dangerous, but Cliff doesn't hesitate. He tells them, quote, I'm a nurse and I've been taking care of Wayne for days. Whatever he's got, I probably have.

And there Cliff watches as his friend is rushed into an isolation room, surrounded by fearful staff, then shut away and left alone. When Cliff tries to go into that room, the medical staff stops him. They warn him that it's too dangerous, but Cliff doesn't hesitate. He tells them, quote, I'm a nurse and I've been taking care of Wayne for days. Whatever he's got, I probably have.

And he goes into the room. So at the time, it's very common for medical staff treating these patients to wear head-to-toe PPE, including what's casually referred to as a space suit, which are those heavy-duty biohazard suits that we've all seen in movies. So...

And he goes into the room. So at the time, it's very common for medical staff treating these patients to wear head-to-toe PPE, including what's casually referred to as a space suit, which are those heavy-duty biohazard suits that we've all seen in movies. So...

The staff who have been wearing suits like that, if not the heavy duty PPE, is just staring at Cliff in shock and horror as he walks into Wayne's room without any protective gear on at all. Cliff later says, I didn't want to wear a space suit to take care of my friend.

The staff who have been wearing suits like that, if not the heavy duty PPE, is just staring at Cliff in shock and horror as he walks into Wayne's room without any protective gear on at all. Cliff later says, I didn't want to wear a space suit to take care of my friend.

So seeing these patients at San Francisco General, as well as his roommate, being neglected, isolated and denied compassion in the final days of their lives infuriates Cliff. The fact is, at this time, most patients with AIDS do not survive. And Cliff sees that their deaths are neither peaceful nor dignified.

So seeing these patients at San Francisco General, as well as his roommate, being neglected, isolated and denied compassion in the final days of their lives infuriates Cliff. The fact is, at this time, most patients with AIDS do not survive. And Cliff sees that their deaths are neither peaceful nor dignified.

They're not allowed in or like their friends don't know that this is the part that they're in. Like they're just not. It's like everyone's freaking out.

They're not allowed in or like their friends don't know that this is the part that they're in. Like they're just not. It's like everyone's freaking out.

Yeah, exactly. Yeah. So these patients die in pain, surrounded by fear and often alone. And this the diagnosis of this disease cuts them off from care in a time that they need it the most. So Cliff decides he needs to change this.

Yeah, exactly. Yeah. So these patients die in pain, surrounded by fear and often alone. And this the diagnosis of this disease cuts them off from care in a time that they need it the most. So Cliff decides he needs to change this.