Kidney failure on "Without a Trace"

[BigSteve]

If anyone else watched "Without a Trace" Sunday night they saw writers who should
consult someone who know anything about kidney failure. The character in the show
was experiencing "kidney failure". He says " they are giving me antibiotics and I am on
dialysis once a week. The doctors say I have six month to a year to live." Just what we need,
more misinformation going out to the public.

[Zach]

Could it be that this "misinformation" is to encourage kidney donations?     

[George Jung]

I don't think people are really tuned in to receive accurate information from an entertainment show.  If I had seen that episode, pre-diagnosis, I wouldn't have thought twice about what I had heard.  I probably wouldn't have even retained that information the next day.  It is simply entertainment.  I am much more tuned in now, as you seem to be also, to pick up on such things.  I recently noticed a kidney joke in a move I have in my collection that I have watched many times.

[goofynina]

I have noticed there have been more and more "jokes" out there about someone either "needing" a kidney or willing to "offer" a kidney, and these are on talk shows and sitcoms.  I dont know if it is a good thing or a bad thing, but i do know one thing, I HATE DIALYSIS 

[kitkatz]

I hate misinformation being given to the public about dialysis even more.  It is hard enough being a dialysis patient without Hollywood making it look easy to do.  And making it look like antibiotics will cure everything. A letter needs to be written to the idiot producers and tell them what dialysis is like. GRRRRRRRR!  I have my big stick out if you need it!

[meadowlandsnj]

I used to have a list of every TV and movie that had dialysis related material in it.  Anyway, the Simpsons had an episode where Homer donated a kidney to his father.

Donna

[goofynina]

Or even on South Park, SOUTH PARK mind you, i believe it was Cartman who gave Kenny a kidney, (against his will)  go figure 

[AlasdairUK]

All awareness is good as I have told people that I'm on dialysis and they ask what it is. I don't think many people take entertainment episodes as accurate information. The more coverage the better as it gets it into peoples minds.

[thegrammalady]

i stopped watching er because of a storyline they did about a baby born 3 months premature. it was about not doing anything to attempt to save the baby's life because he was born too early for there to be anything to be done. BULL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! tell that to my 7 year old grandson. due december 1999 born in september. I HATE MISSINFORMATION. even though it's entertainment i think writers and producers have an obligation to get it right

[Joe Paul]

Hmm, sounds like someone needs to send a link to this forum.

[Wattle]

I used to have a list of every TV and movie that had dialysis related material in it.  Anyway, the Simpsons had an episode where Homer donated a kidney to his father.

Donna

I have always hated the Simpsons. My son use to sneak behind my back to watch it. The day I finally got the courage to tell my kids the problems with my kidneys was an eye opener for me. The power of t.v. My husband and I sat the kids (aged 8 & 11) down to tell them mum had to start dialysis and she needed a kidney transplant. It was a shock at the start... mums sick.... are you going to die..... then my son said " Its no big deal Mum Homer gave one to Granpa on the Simpsons". He is now allowed to watch the Simpsons!     

[kimcanada]

I think that misinformation sucks,  I know that when I started down this road of kidney failure I was scared to death about what I had "Heard" its like advertising, if you hear it enough it must be true.


Kim

[angela515]

Most information you get about any type of illness out there, isn't always going to be accurate on tv shows... the purpose of a tv show is for entertainment, and however they need to achieve that, and change things to make it more entertaining, then so be it... if people count on tv shows that are for entertainment purposes for reliable information, then there is a problem.

Now, if we were talking about the News or a TV show that is for Informational purposes, I can understand getting it right... 

[carolyn77531]

most people do not understand kidney failure or dialysis...i had to quit my job....becouse they did not understand what i had to do for my daughter

[luckaholic]

There was an article in last weeks New Idea magazine about one of the dancing with the stars participants is donating money to the kidney foundation as his father is on dialysis. The mag totally played up on it and in a way exaggerated everything and the title was "with kidney failure threatening his fathers life". His father is infact on home hemo and looks like he is quite well. I am however happy that this guy is donating money to the AKF. I wrote them a nice thankyou letter.

[thegrammalady]

shows like er, without a trace etc hire consultants, people in whatever business that are supposed to be there to make sure the show gets it right. mostly to avoid anyone getting sued because the show does something stupid. they still do stupid. a little more research and they would have gotten it right, but then again they may have known it was wrong and did it anyway because it made a good story line. unfortunately there are a lot of people out there who take these types of shows as gospel.

keep me away from the soapbox, you don't want me there it isn't a pretty sight.

[okarol]

I don't know if you saw the "Curb Your Enthusiasm" episodes surrounding a kidney transplant.
It was humorous, in parts, but killing the donor at the end was depressing!

Here's a synopsis:

Jeff gives Larry the bad news about Richard: he needs a kidney transplant. Because the comic's cousin refuses to give up any of his organs while he's still alive, Richard is hoping that a close friend will come through. Larry's response is, "I have to choose healthier friends." Eventually he gets into a conflict with Jeff about which of them should offer to give Richard a kidney. Larry David pretends to be an Orthodox Jew in an attempt to convince the director of the Kidney Consortium to give his friend a transplant, just so he can avoid donating the kidney himself. After some coaxing from his wife Cheryl, Larry finally does take the test to see if his kidney is a match for Richard's, but he doesn't do it alone. Jeff tags along, and after the test results come back they find that they're both compatible. They fight over the honor of who will be able to donate part of themselves to help, and possibly save the life of their friend. HA! Just kidding! They play a game of eeny meeny miney mo. Larry thought he had the pattern worked out, and it did play the way he thought, but he's not the winner, he's the loser.

Larry asked Richard if there was anyone else who could donate a kidney, a family member, anyone. Larry has a moment of clarity and leaves immediately to go to the aid of his friend Richard. Two months pass, and while Richard Lewis is sitting in paradise, sipping on a mixed drink with a beautiful woman, Larry is dying. After some final words to his friends and family, Larry passes away. In heaven, he meets his two guardian angels. He immediately starts hounding them with questions, and while they're able to answer them all for the most part, they quickly realize they've got their hands full. His guides have a quick pow-wow and decide to send Larry back. Even paradise can't bear him.

[George Jung]

If you want to watch some informative television you should try:
(some of my faves)
Science Channel
The Learning Channel
Discovery Channel
Nat'l Geographic Channel

And similar broadcasts....

[kitkatz]

I watch information TV more than I watch network TV. In fact we bought Dish network so we could have more information channels than network TV channels. Network TV gives me mostly the heebie jeebies!

[Zach]

If you want to watch some informative television you should try:
(some of my faves)
Science Channel
The Learning Channel
Discovery Channel
Nat'l Geographic Channel

And similar broadcasts....

And don't forget the Public Broadcasting Service--PBS.     

[George Jung]

Oh yea....AND PBS (public broadcasting service).  Sorry bout that Zach.