Boy Scout’s Battle With AIDS to Become Film
Henry Nicols, the Eagle Scout who went public with his battle with AIDS in 1991 and spent the last 10 years of his life promoting AIDS awareness around the world, may be the subject of a television movie, the Associated Press reports. John Schneider, the former "Dukes of Hazzard" star, met last week with the Nicols family and agreed to produce an outline of the movie for their approval. The film, which Schneider will produce, will recount Nichols' battle with AIDS and his decision to make public his illness. "I think Henry's story is compelling and needs to be told," Schneider explained to the Daily Star of Oneonta, N.Y. Nicols was born with hemophilia and contracted HIV in 1984 through a blood transfusion. In 1991, then 17-year-old Nicols and his family decided to go public and Nichols undertook AIDS education as his Eagle Scout project. He died last May, not of AIDS-related complications but of injuries he received in an automobile accident. Schneider said he may also act in the picture if it "makes the package more attractive for investors" (Associated Press, 2/9).
This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.