Poisoning the Well

"Poisoning the Well" is the seventh episodes of the first season of Stargate Atlantis.

Plot
The Atlantis team discover the Hoffans, a race of humans that have advanced to a technological level similar to that of Earth during the 1st World War. Their knowledge is stored in several hidden libraries to prevent total destruction with each Wraith culling. They have been working on an inoculation which will prevent the Wraith from feeding on them. Major John Sheppard volunteers Dr. Carson Beckett's help, and Beckett helps a Hoffan scientist, Perna, to complete the drug ahead of schedule. To the reluctance of Dr. Elizabeth Weir, they are eager to test the drug, using a terminally ill Hoffan volunteer as a human trial. They inoculated him with the drug and test him against Steve, the Wraith Sheppard captured a couple of episodes before. The drug works better than they thought: Steve was killed by it.

Beckett wants to run more tests but the Hoffans start mass-production and mass-inoculation immediately. It's then discovered that the drug has a severe side effect: a 50% mortality rate. After a planet-wide vote proves that a 96% of Hoffans are willing to risk it so the Wraith can't feed from them, the Hoffan leader asks for the Atlantis team help distribute the medication to other worlds. The team, appalled by the society's ruthlessness, refuses to cooperate and leaves.