Lupus in the Media: Television Shows and Movies where Lupus was featured or part of the character or storyline
Even after House, M.D.
So I have tried to compile a list of Lupus in the Media. I chose not to include medical statistics or news broadcasts, and focussed specifically on television shows, documentaries, and movies where Lupus was featured or part of the storyline. I have derived this information from a variety of sources like newspaper articles, websites etc. I believe this list to be true and accurate. The list below is in no particular order. If you have anyone to add, or delete- please contact me.
Television:
* One Life to Live (Soap Opera) Dr. Margaret "Marty" Saybrooke and Megan Gordon (1989) Both characters on the show had lupus, the character Megan died from Lupus in the storyline.
*Seinfeld Season 2: Episode 13: "The Heart Attack" While at a restaurant with Jerry and Elaine, George claims to be having a heart attack and is rushed to the hospital. While interupting the doctor's real diagnosis (needing his tonsils removed) George blurts out a few diagnosis, one of them being Lupus!
* Robert Bazell, NBC News Chief science correspondent, debuted a new series, called "Medical Mysteries," the focus of which is autoimmune diseases. Lupus was the first autoimmune disease to be featured.
ABC News Specials Medical Mysteries: Episodes 1-6
* House, M.D.
* HOUSE, "A Walk in the Woods", Episode 149 Original Air Date, 02.15.01 A recourring character "Bishop Stewart" (and elderly man) comes in with an acute lupus flare.
* ER Season Finale, - May 15, 2008; Patient brought into the ER with Lupus and has a seizure.
ER - The Complete First Seven Seasons
* TLC's A Baby Story (Reality Show)- June 25th, 2008; Showed the story of a woman with Lupus having a baby.
* "The Simpsons" A Star Is Born Again" Original Air Date: 2 March 2003(Season 14, Episode 13) In this episode they refer to a "Lupus Fun Run," where they are running in the park for a lupus charity. At the very end you hear one of the characters, "Nelson Muntz" yells "Lupus Sucks!" Also, a little weird side note, during the episode Homer randomly coughs and a purple butterfly (those being symbols for lupus) randomly comes out of his mouth.
Buy The Simpson's Episode through Amazon.com
* Keeping Kids Healthy (PBS and American Public Television) Nationally Syndicated Won a 2005 New York Emmy Award (11/ 2005) re-aired (2/ 2006, 3/ 2006, 6/2006) EPISODE 401 - Lupus: A Medical Mystery. Christine Miserandino and her mother was featured in this episode. For more information and to view this episode click here.
Movies:
Gross Anatomy
*If you enjoyed reading this list, you might also enjoy: Lupus In The Media: "Famous" People Living with Lupus
List compiled by Christine Miserandino and the butyoudontlooksick.com staff, ©
* Please do not copy this list without permission from the author. We encourage linking.
Comments
Hi,
Great article.
I just wanted to add that a major character in the Australian hospital drama 'All Saints' has lupus.
Yvonne 'Von' Ryan played by Judith McGrath is a nurse who has Lupus. I never watched the show properly so I don't know how accurately it is portrayed.
Posted by: Emma | December 3, 2008 05:57 AM
I recall that lupus was also mentioned in one episode of "Dr. G, Medical Examiner." (Aired December 21, 2007) At first it seemed the woman in question died of a pulmonary embolism (after a flight to Florida and vacationing in Orlando).
Posted by: Connie | December 3, 2008 05:31 PM
Coincidentally, Lupus was briefly mentioned as a possible reason for death on an episode of CSI:NY I watched last week! It turned out the dead person had actually had radiation poisoning but the "butterfly" rash and hair loss had me wondering.
Posted by: Ricky Buchanan | December 8, 2008 05:33 PM
A long time ago, (the 70's)around the time I was diagnosed, I saw an episode of Marcus Welby, MD, and the patient (a young woman) was diagnosed with Lupus.
Posted by: Janene | December 17, 2008 11:36 AM
Lupus features in another episode of Seinfeld: season 3, "The Suicide". George goes to see a psychic but annoys her. The psychic refuses to tell him anything so he shouts out suggestions such as "Is it a plane crash? or lupus?"
Posted by: Mike | January 24, 2009 05:00 PM