Did you catch the recent Eli Stone controversy? Regardless of where you fell on the issues of immunization and autism, there’s no denying that TV greatly impacts our ideas and how we think. The problem with shows that have medical content, however, is that if those shows become misguided, so too can their audiences. And, recent events should cause us all to pause and at the very least wonder about the thoroughness of medical review for TV dramas.
Why is this so important? Simple. It's essential to have solid background information on all TV dramas because of how real and believable the events portrayed can seem. The same is true for what you see, hear and read on the internet. Keep in mind that celebrities are actors but are not experts. They just play experts on TV or online.
If it hadn’t been for the medical community shedding light on the Eli Stone episode before it aired, many parents may have not known the facts and could have been too easily convinced that immunizations are harming their children. They may have been all too swayed by the power of the drama and their own emotional hot buttons and could have been misguided to not immunize their own children. The interesting irony with this episode is that even before it aired, a new study demonstrated that thimerosal, the element always cited as the culprit of vaccine harm, is innocent as charged.
Thanks to the outcry of medical experts, the producers of Eli Stone did post a disclaimer at the start of the show and some links at the show's conclusion. Those are often tried and true ways of alerting you to important medical information. In fact, question shows you see with questionable medical information that does not take those extra steps. A responsible show with a good message will include some sort of informational message at the end, if not question the reliability of the show and hold fast to your current health beliefs.
If you ever watch a show that raises medical questions about someone in your family, your family's pediatrician or internist are two wonderful resources available to you. Start there before you go too far online. The last thing any of us want is for a TV show to confuse you and if you are confused, others in the practice likely are, too. So, let someone know.
