The "Unfortunate Experiment" - Lest We Forget

MEDIACOM-RELEASE-NZ-ON-AIR

Remember the "unfortunate experiment" - where signs of cancer were left untreated in scores of New Zealand women, who were unwitting participants in a cervical cancer study?

Clare is a dramatisation of the events that led to the uncovering of the "unfortunate experiment" and will soon be on our television screens thanks to funding from NZ On Air.

"Many people will remember that Metro magazine brought the story to New Zealand just over ten years ago," said NZ On Air Chief Executive, Jo Tyndall.

"The Metro article centred around a woman they called Ruth. Ruth is Clare Matheson. The drama is focussed around Clare's story and the impact "the experiment" had on her life.

"It's a tragic chapter of our recent history. It occurred on our own doorstep, was conducted by our own health professionals, and personally touched on the lives of many New Zealand women and their families," said Ms Tyndall.

Producer, Dave Gibson, said that Clare had been a long time in the researching and writing and the NZ On Air funding meant the television programme could finally be produced.

"We began work on the project ten years ago. We have persevered with it, because it's a drama that simply must be made. It is not just part of our recent history, but a story that has relevance today," said Mr Gibson.

The Gibson Group has been allocated $1,000,000 towards the production of the 2-hour telefeature Clare.

ENDS

For further information:

Jo Tyndall, Chief Executive NZ On Air

Tel: (04) 382 9524

This media release is available on the Internet, at

http://www.nzonair.govt.nz

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