House MD and misrepresentation

Trialia

GlasweJen wrote: »

I don't need to know about EDS, I just need to know that House is a fictional programme that follows a doctor who takes on outrageous cases and also has mental health problems and addiction issues. The programme is not in any way put forward as a factual programme so why the offence that they featured an illness?

It's not that they featured the illness, it's that they gave people who may know nothing about it an entirely false impression, and it's hard enough to get people to listen to you when you say you have an invisible disability as it is without blatant misrepresentation like this - which can be harmful if, for example, an ATOS examiner with no clue about the condition actually happens to think the show does research illnesses properly to try to portray them accurately - can you see where I'm going with this?

Sure, anyone with a good dollop of common sense doesn't take medical dramas seriously about this kind of thing, but common sense is not as common as it used to be - especially when it comes to ATOS examinations

GlasweJen

Oh come on, ATOS using House as a reference tool when doing medicals?

If that was the case they would have buried me years ago - according to House (and wikipedia come to think of it) people with my medical condition only live until their late teens/early twenties.

Trialia

GlasweJen wrote: »

Oh come on, ATOS using House as a reference tool when doing medicals?

If that was the case they would have buried me years ago - according to House (and wikipedia come to think of it) people with my medical condition only live until their late teens/early twenties.

I didn't say they use it as a reference tool, but that the idea might stick in someone's mind when coming across a condition they've never assessed before - and EDS isn't all that common.

Frankly, I've had doctors do this kind of thing to me who were otherwise unfamiliar with my illness, so I don't put it past anyone.

Olokia

My point is that my condition is rare. Some things do stick in my mind from watching House even though I know it isn't real. I don't want people to remember this episode and think that is what my condition is.

Anyway they shouldn't have made this mistake. They have 2 medical advisors. There was an interview with one of them where they said that they will change it slightly to make it funnier. Not to the extent that they got it completely wrong though.

I understand Law and Order having an abortion episode where they said the fetus should be aborted. The unborn baby had Ehlers-Danlos and they said the skin is too fragile and will constantly break and be infected and it will need round the clock care because of this. Also incorrect but they don't have a medical advisor and no one will believe the medical stuff. They might however on House as they do have the advisor.

I don't know why you keep coming on to my thread to put me and my condition down. I was asking for advice because I was worried (not just because of the show, the show just made me feel worse) not for someone to tell me "to get over it". If this is how you give helpful advice to someone who is worried then you are not welcome in my thread. Consider yourself ignored.

GlasweJen

Ignore me all you like but where did I put down your condition?

daska

Trialia wrote: »

I didn't say they use it as a reference tool, but that the idea might stick in someone's mind when coming across a condition they've never assessed before - and EDS isn't all that common.

Frankly, I've had doctors do this kind of thing to me who were otherwise unfamiliar with my illness, so I don't put it past anyone.

Absolutely agree, I was told catagorically by a chiropractor that my mother couldn't have xxx syndrome because she knew what sufferers should 'look' like. The fact that mother has sufficient indicators to be formally diagnosed by a consultant, though the presentation is atypical, wouldn't wash with her. Totally ignorant and based on a perception gleaned from the media.

Not all ATOS health professionals are even doctors - let alone specialist in the conditions suffered by the people they are assessing.

soolin

If I believed a very old episode of House and even the GBS support group I would be considered disabled and probably in a wheelchair. Social services even came and measured up my house to instal the items I would need to assist with my disability and were surprised to find me perfectly well after I spent some time on life support completely paralysed with Guillain–Barr! syndrome. I assume they also watched the House episode rather than believe my consultant who said I would get well.

If we believed what we saw in TV programmes we would all be able to give birth wearing a pair of tights that don't get taken off (Neighbours circa 1985) .

Yes it is upsetting to watch something on TV and be badly affected by how they portray something, but we must put it in perspective. It happens all the time, have a miscarriage for instance and all you will see all over the TV is woman having babies.

If you feel aggrieved enough then write a letter to the producers of the programme and express your concerns in the strongest possible way, but leave it a couple of days before you post it in case you change your mind.

Trialia

*points up to what Daska just said and doesn't even bother formulating a proper reply - not worth it.*

Olokia

soolin wrote: »

If you feel aggrieved enough then write a letter to the producers of the programme and express your concerns in the strongest possible way, but leave it a couple of days before you post it in case you change your mind.

They probably wouldn't even read it. No point, the episode had aired and its not like they are not going to stop airing it because of me. I just think that their medical advisers should be doing their job properly.

I will however mention it to Hugh Laurie that I didn't like the episode because they got it completely wrong. He is coming to my home town on the 2nd May to play at the jazz festival and there probably will be some signing thing after.

daska

Bumped into a friend today to discover that after 2 years of being told that her son had depression, ME/CFS, POTS, and even that she was displacing her problems onto him... her son has a formal diagnosis of EDS. He's pushing 17 now and obviously behind in his education but hopefully, with the correct support, will be able to start catching up. He's seriously brainy, IQ off the scale, so I don't think he'll struggle once the energy problem is solved. Any recommendations as to the best internet sites, forums etc for either him or his mum?