February 13, 2008

HIV Mama Drama!

To ensure that ABC and its parent company, Disney, hear their concerns, Beard and Throckmorton wrote them an open letter, which 1,100 fans signed online. The duo overnighted it to GH’s publicist, Mitch Messinger, on January 15. At press time, Scrubs had not received an official response from anyone at the network, but GH’s head producer, Jill Farren Phelps, told POZ that they welcomed the letter. “We love that our fans are passionate enough about this story to take a stance on the way they'd like it told,” she said. Indeed, Beard emphasized that their grassroots mini-movement is friendly, not adversarial. “We have high expectations based on [past effective story lines],” she says.  “We know that they can deliver and we are just hoping that they give it enough focus and do it right.”  

But is it TV’s responsibility to educate audiences about health care? While even the Scrubs fans allow that television’s main task is to entertain, studies suggest that almost 50 percent of U.S. viewers grasp health-related information from watching television, especially soaps. Daytime dramas have proven effective at delivering prevention and general information about HIV/AIDS to their extremely loyal audiences. Because viewers are so deeply tied to the lives of the characters, they are more prone to listen to advice given by them.

Phelps says she also recognizes TV’s power to teach and claims that one of GH’s major goals is to educate their audience. “[This] gives us the opportunity to inform our viewers about medical advancements made since Robin’s diagnosis in 1995 and show that it is possible for an HIV positive woman to have biological children without passing the virus down to them,” she says. What’s more, Phelps says, GH has always used expert medical consultants to ensure accuracy—in plotlines that have ranged over the years from heartthrob Stone’s AIDS death to Monica’s breast cancer to Sonny’s bipolar disorder. “[Our fans] can rest assured that this story will not be sensationalized,” states Phelps. “Like similar narratives centered on Robin’s HIV, the point is to inform and to be compelling.”

Kimberly McCullough, the actress who plays Robin tells POZ, “I have talked to many people who didn’t know that it is possible for an HIV-positive woman to give birth to a healthy baby,” she continues. “I hope that this story will do a good job to inform people about how possible it is. Just like any disease, it is always good to bring light to stories of hope and progress in medicine.”

With almost seven months left to watch Robin’s baby bump grow, will her tale unfold realistically—or will a hunger for ratings overcome a sense of responsibility.  To be continued…

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Previous Comments:

Sharon Douglass, Winter Park, 2008-02-19 10:28:49
Can we please have some responsibility when we write stories to use correct verbage. No one dies from AIDS. It is a syndrome, not a disease. People die from the consequences of HIV infection [disease], not from an acronym. Just look at what AIDS means..Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome... Where do you see the word disease? So it is inappropriate to say someone died from AIDS. If Soaps educate, lets start calling this disease what it is..HIV disease.

Allycen, Layton, UT, 2008-02-14 17:52:37
I think it is SO important that this story be told responsibly and accurately. Kudos to all involved in this campaign. Soaps DO open lots of eyes, and this is the perfect opportunity to open more eyes as well as some hearts!

Vic, , 2008-02-14 14:37:35
I am very happy too read that someone has finally spoke up about this storyline. I hope that GH will do the right thing with this. With GH putting Robin and Patrick together I believe it could teach men who are expecting a baby from and HIV positive woman, that it is possible and not too run away. It can be a beatiful thing. Please do the right thing.

Rachel, nyc, 2008-02-14 13:40:53
This is an amazing story and I wish with all my heart that it indeed will be given the time and treated with the grace that these great actors can bring and I hope GH does follow through. I fear that this wonderful story may be pushed to the side by GH and not take the time to deliver the message that needs to be told.I hope the network realizes how important this is and not to be taken as a ten second story and destroyed with nonsense that is not needed in the telling of this HIV pregnancy.

Rochell Giacalone, nyc, 2008-02-14 13:24:43
this is an amazing story and I with all my heart look forward to this beautiful story being told.Thank you

David, Hacienda Heights, 2008-02-14 02:59:06
I think it is important to have perhaps a realistic story and some roles on this issue. I wonder what my life could have been like to father children being HIV+. Shows that times are a changin'. I hope Robin has her baby and Dr. Drake follows through with wanting to be a father. Might show that there is still joy to be had with real problems.

Tonia, , 2008-02-13 23:03:57
I'd like to believe Ms Phelps when she says the HIV baby storyline will NOT be sensationalized. But so far I have yet to see that, nor have I seen enough airtime given to it. I'm hoping things will change soon. Thank you for bringing attention to this very important storyline.

Tatiana, NYC, 2008-02-13 21:45:02
"Will General Hospital deliver? following its HIV pregnancy." I really like the title to this article. The answer so far is No. GH has done a poor job executing this story, which worries me for what's to come. It's gotten off to shaky start & it's somewhat disappointing. SoapNet recently aired a Robin marathon & just seeing the episode where her boyfriend, Stone, died of AIDS, made me realize how much this current story is missing. Not only in terms of facts, but also in terms of heart.

Courtney M, Nederland, Texas, 2008-02-13 21:42:37
Excellent job on this article! I have been anxiously awaiting it's arrival, as I was one of the SCRUBS board members that signed the open letter that was mentioned here. This storyline is very important to a LOT of people, and all we want as fans is for it to be told responsibly. They have plenty of other characters on this show to mess around with. Leave Patrick and Robin out of the soap cliches and let them have their baby as their fans prefer to see it.