Are prime-time TV medical-dramas truly distorting patient expectations? We don’t think so. Do you?

Medical dramas aren’t the only ones in today’s television circuit that are incorporating rare diseases into plot lines and characters. In 4 Times Grey’s Anatomy Featured Rare Disease and We Loved it we quoted Dr. Zoanne Clack, co-executive producer of “Grey’s Anatomy,” saying that it was a production goal to portray patients living with a chronic disease rather than dying from one.

While many may argue that television portrayal of life with rare diseases, the journey to and post diagnosis and the fulfillment of patient expectations are sugar coated and fantasized, the fact is that the shows are having an impact with viewers. Rare disease awareness is raising, the stigma and stereotypes associated with rare or chronic illness is being broken down and laid out for everyone to see and recognize as a huge part of life.

We just wrote about Chicago Fire and firefighter Oti’s Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) diagnosis. Well, the sister show on NBC Chicago PD’s recent Episode 20 of Season 3 featured sickle cell disease. 

The reliable team at Chicago Medical again provided Chicago’s finest with information that helped zero in on a suspect who left a baby in a duffel bag on Chicago lakefront. The clip below captures Sgt. Hank Voight’s disgust with the crime, and disappointment with the lack of Sickle Cell programs available in the fictional Chicago area…

Spoiler alert, the baby survives. Chicago PD Season 3 Episode 20: In a Duffel Bag

Sickle Cell Disease, or SCD encompasses a group (6 types) of inherited red blood cell disorders. It is a life-long illness and its severity varies widely from person to person. Hemoglobin SC disease and hemoglobin Sβ thalassemia (thal-uh-SEE-me-uh) are the two most common forms of SCD and are not considered life threatening.

Major advancements have been made in diagnosing SCD early on so that complications can be prevented and effective treatment therapies to reduce symptoms can be incorporated into daily life. Today, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only cure for SCD.

Sickled red blood cells produce abnormal hemoglobin forms which ultimately block normal blood flow throughout blood vessels. People with SCD usually experience attacks of sudden and severe pain due to the lack of tissue oxygen. This poor oxygen delivery can result in organ damage. You can read all about Sickle Cell Disease, or SCD here and you can watch a video of Nicholas’ story about living with and managing SCD- presented by the National heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (via the NIH).

CALL TO ACTION Folks!

When you are watching TV and see a #raredisease featured:

Snap a picture and Tweet or Facebook @PatientWorthy #rarediseaseawareness #thanksmoderntv #(insertdiseasehere) to help raise awareness!