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CNN Live At Daybreak

Look at Influence TV Shows and Movies Have on Medical Care

Aired July 17, 2002 - 08:41   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ARTHEL NEVILLE, CNN ANCHOR: In our House Call this morning, we're looking at the influence that fictional TV shows and movies have on the medical care that people get everyday. Powerful dramas like "ER" can spotlight issues about the right to die, and racial disparities in health care. But important issues like prescription drug coverage for the elderly get less attention, because they don't make good TV.

Rea Blakey is in Washington now and join us now.

Rea, before we get to the issues that they cover in these medical dramas, today, the makers of these health care policy issues, as well as TV makers, are meeting in Washington. Do you have any idea how they might collaborate in the future?

REA BLAKEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think it's going to be a continuation of the successful efforts they believe they've had so far. Basically, what's happened is Hollywood has realized that this is an area that people are very much interested in. And, of course, for people in public health policy, to be able to interface with Hollywood and get your message out to so many more millions, Arthel, is a huge boon. The idea is you want to make sure they get accurate information, and that's where the real questions come in.

Television is a primary resource for millions of people who are seeking health news, but that information doesn't always come from the news media. Entertainment media, obviously, TV shows, movies, they also address those issues. Take, for example, a show like Lifetime's "Strong Medicine." It features issues like breast cancer treatment options, access to medication in low-income communities.

The most common public policy issues raised in medical dramas, according to a new study, end of life issues, patient rights, and disparities in care. But remember, they're dramas, designed to entertain. So are most medical dramas an accurate depiction of real life? Let's take a look at the movie "John Q." that's being released these days on video. Seen in theaters by some 12 to 15 moviegoers, it's about a family with a son who can't get a life-saving heart transplant because insurance doesn't cover it. And the hospital is demanding a $75,000 payment in cash in advance. A recent survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation shows seven in 10 adults who claim to be familiar with that movie believe insurers do refuse to pay for treatments like those in the movie. However, the reality, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing, is of the 2,200 organ transplants performed last year, 97 percent were, in fact, covered by private insurance, HMOs, PPOs or government insurance plans. Only 2 percent were self-pay cases, and some people don't actually report their resources. Still overall, the Kaiser Study found that most people believe medical TV and movie dramas provide a fair and accurate representation.

About half say public health issues in dramas are even-handed. The remaining half are split somewhat evenly, 26 believing that the dramas slant toward the status quo. The other 26 percent say they're biased against current policy.

"ER," a really phenomenal show, some 20 to 30 million viewers each week, reaches a lot of people. Well, when suspected smallpox cases showed up on the fictional "ER" set, pandemonium broke out. But most importantly, a survey taken after that episode aired revealed a majority of people who watched that program knew that if someone had been exposed to smallpox, but didn't have the symptoms yet, a smallpox vaccination would prevent the person from coming down with the disease. That was part of the story line. That was an accurate depiction.

So again, Arthel, the bottom line, public health leaders and those who help shape the public policy here in Washington really do have to enlist the assistance of those in Hollywood if they want to reach the largest number of Americans.

NEVILLE: Absolutely.

Now talk about for me the health issues that Hollywood tends to shy away from.

BLAKEY: You know, in television, we talk about what's interesting to the audience. Sometimes we use the shorthand of what's sexy. The things that are considered least sexy and are often least featured happen to be prescription drug coverage for the elderly and coverage for the uninsured, two huge issues of debate, certainly on Capitol Hill, but in these medical dramas, you don't see that that much, because the audience isn't really as interested.

NEVILLE: Well, hopefully they'll be able to incorporate that, because people need to understand those issues as well.

Thanks a lot, Rea.

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