A few days ago, I wrote a short medical article on how Bollywood is as an excellent source of information on how to treat bullet wounds. Based on the excellent feedback I received, I decided to search for a suitable venue for publication in a scholarly medical journal. Physicians and life scientists generally use PubMed, a comprehensive database provided by the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
In searching the database, I came across a medical article published in the March 2010 issue of The Journal of ECT entitled “The depiction of electroconvulsive therapy in Hindi cinema”. You probably didn’t know this, but electroconvulsive therapy or ECT is popularly referred to as “shock therapy” in Bollywood movies.
Who knew?
The authors, all Indian physicians, felt that Hindi movies were a source of misinformation on shock therapy. To remedy the injustice, they first identified 13 Hindi movies between 1967 and 2008 “based on inquiries with e-communities, video libraries, and other sources”. These 13 movies were then listed in Table 1 of the research paper. The movies identified in this research were Jewel Thief, Raat aur Din, Khamoshi, Yarana, Arth, Coolie, Damini, Raja, Dastak, Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega, Kyon Ki, Woh Lamhe, and Manthan Ek Kashmakash (starring the other Sanjay Kumar and Anisha Babi if you insist on knowing).
The authors state that “between 1967 and 2008, 13 Hindi movies contained referrals to or depictions of ECT.” I am sure they had good reasons for excluding Pagla Kahin Ka, Khilona, and Dhara as well as any others that that have explicit referrals to ECT within that time-frame that might have come into your mind.
In any case, shockingly, the authors found inaccuracies in the depiction of ECT in Hindi movies. Who would have thought?
The authors also provide a thorough discussion of the implications of these inaccuracies. Two points are worth discussing.
“Although the inaccuracies are a cause for concern, we suggest that because Hindi cinema is generally hyperbolic, the public may be willing to distinguish real life from reel life when facing clinical decisions about ECT.”
Hindi cinema, generally hyperbolic? Really? Although I probably couldn’t recognize a hyperbole if it burst out in song-and-dance wearing a chiffon sari in the Austrian Alps, it is possibly within the realm of doubt that the authors’ comment might be a slight understatement.
“Nevertheless, considering the potential for harm in the dissemination of misinformation, filmmakers should exhibit a greater sense of ethics when creating impressions that might adversely influence health.”
Shame on you Hindi filmmakers for not having any ethics, especially since you hold so much sway over decisions related to public health. Priyadarshan, I know you haven’t had time recently to browse through issues of The Journal of ECT or have your secretary pick up the most recent copy for you from Wheeler’s at Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus, but I really must protest. This sort of ignorance on medical matters clearly will not do!
The public deserves better.
Disclaimer: These are my personal views and do not necessarily represent the position of my current or former employers. My commentary is strictly directed towards analysis of the medical article and not the reputation of the authors, editors, or publishers.
© Text, 2010-2012, Anirban
No comments:
Post a Comment