Casualty 19/02/2011

[serenity79]

That might be a good idea actually, to have something a little more 'official' coming at them. I still haven't heard anything from them, so they're obviously not all that concerned about getting back to us quickly.

[Sue New]

I am debating about watching it and writing in from the HMSA as well.

I think it would be great if you would write in on behalf of the HMSA - I think it would carry quite a lot a weight having the charity behind the complaint as well

[Rosie]

Hi all

I haven't heard anything back yet. I do think that a complaint/comment from the HMSA is a good idea and will back up our individual comments.

Rosie

[Mooncat]

I also saw this episode of Casualty and was outraged about the way in which the EDS patient was treated. Too many of us have been badly treated in A&E in the past and I would have hoped that the BBC could have created a bit more out the character they treated and therefore a more positive spin on the way in which he was treated. How dare they say that he wanted a morphine hit just for the sheer pleasure of it. I admire the letters that have been written already and hope that a response is made.

[serenity79]

Still nothing back from the BBC, not even a cursory 'we are looking into your complaint'!! I think that's absolutely disgraceful.

[Englishgremlin1]

had a reply back today - not really an apology at all.

Thank you for getting in touch regarding our portrayal of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome in a recent episode of Casualty.

I am sorry that you feel we misrepresented Ehler-Danlos Syndrome. We did not mean to suggest that all sufferers of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome exploit their illness in order to obtain drugs, merely that this particular sufferer has a history of doing just that and so receives short shrift in the Emergency Department. It is not unusual for drug addicts to use an illness to gain access to drugs from medical professionals and the story was meant to illustrate the bigger problem of addiction and how addicts feed their habit.

I can assure you that all of our medical references are rigorously researched and that we go to great lengths to retain our credibility.

Thank you again for your concern and I hope you continue to enjoy Casualty in the future.


Finally, I have attached an invitation from BBC Audience Services' Head of Communications & Complaints, asking you to participate in our customer survey. We would welcome your views on our service.

Kind Regards

Joanne Docherty
BBC Complaints
www.bbc.co.uk/complaints

NB This is sent from an outgoing account only which is not monitored. You cannot reply to this email address but if necessary please contact us via our webform quoting any case number we provided.

[serenity79]

Wow. That's really rubbish.

[gila]

looks like you were the first to get an answer grem-

but what an utterly rubbish one! - if I get that one... I'll be complaining again - about/aimed at their medical researchers...
cause although 'medically accurate' and poss - to so flippantly and extremely portray someone with a rare/not well known by med bods/ unknown to most peops disorder, which means these peops struggle practically daily with being "well treated' ... is just so irresponsible.
I feel the researchers should also look into what living with one of these rare conditons is like, what kind of probs in dealing with med bods and peops this brings- and not just at the strictly medical side- before they 'pass' a story line...
ARRRRGGGGHHHHHH!
xxg

[Englishgremlin1]

I suppose it was too much to hope for any balance. Hope that replies come to others now but I suspect it will be a stock reply to all

[Sue New]

Hi There,

Just to let you know I received a response to my complaint today, and guess what? Yep - it was word for word the same as Gremlin's

Sue

[Chloe♥]

Yep, I've just had that email as well, as has Tabi.

[parent]

Yep me too word for word. They didn't do either sufferer any justice as been an addict is an illness itself, some may say that it is chosen but that wasn't what i or most of us i'm sure picked up in the story/drama.

[Englishgremlin1]

It is a form letter - what a suprise -

[nemonie]

Yep just got my response letter - word for word the same - I think I shall be complaining again. Just for fun

[gila]

same here- and yep, I'm complaining again
xxg