Ron Woodroof, a real-life electrician and rodeo cowboy, is diagnosed with HIV, leading to a 30-day prognosis.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves AZT (zidovudine) as the first drug to treat HIV/AIDS, despite controversies regarding its efficacy and side effects.
Ron Woodroof creates the Dallas Buyers Club to distribute alternative HIV treatments to patients who cannot obtain them through conventional channels.
Ron Woodroof dies of AIDS-related complications, several years after his initial diagnosis, having significantly impacted access to alternative HIV treatments.