Television programme makers should realise the power of such stories not only to achieve maximal viewing figures but also to cause fear and anxiety, as well as the consumption of scarce healthcare resources. Those responsible for promoting health need to engage programme makers in a full ethical debate.
BMJ online, 1 March, 2003{reminds me of the old days when blacks campaigned for their rights women campaigned for theirs native americans for theirs and etc etc and it just seemed like nobody was ever gonna put the whole thing together. these are reasonable concerned intelligent people who are so myopically involved in their own pursuits that it never occurs to them that by the time every interest group has gotten the TV producers to act responsibly toward their particular group's interests it may well be too late for it to make any difference whatsoever. not to mention the unrepresented minorities with no organisational unity or spokespeople. IT'S BIGGER THAN THAT! that would be my main point there.}
