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Afflicted
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{{stub}} {{NeedsImage}} '''Afflicted''' is a controversial TV documentary series/reality TV series created by Netflix that shows the life of seven patients living with chronic illnesses, including poorly understood illnesses.<ref name="netflix-afflicted">{{Cite web | url = https://www.netflix.com/title/80188953 | title = Afflicted {{!}} Netflix Official Site | last = | first = | author-link = | date = | website = netflix.com|language=en| archive-url = | archive-date = |url-status = | access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref> Patients are shown who live with a number of different chronic illnesses including [[mold illness]], [[electromagnetic hypersensitivity]], [[electrohypersensitivity]] and [[multiple chemical sensitivity]], [[ME/CFS]], [[Hashimoto's thyroiditis]], [[common variable immune deficiency]], [[mast cell activation disorder]], tissue hypoxia, [[dysautonomia]], multiple blood infections, [[Staphylococcus|staph infection]], and [[Chronic Lyme disease|Lyme disease]].<ref name="netflix-afflicted" /> ==Notable people== * Dan Partland - creator and executive producer * Bekah Dinnerstein * Carmen * Jake Sidewell * [[Jamison Hill]] * Jill Edelstein * Star * Pilar Olave ==Awards== ==Reviews== *[https://decider.com/2018/08/10/afflicted-netflix-review-stream-or-skip/ Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Afflicted’ On Netflix, A Docuseries On Unusual Illnesses That Are Hard To Treat] - Joel Keller ==Controversy== Afflicted has been hugely controversial, and is widely regarded by patients, including those who took part in it, and some doctors, as portraying misinformation and increasing the stigma around certain illness. Some illness are portrayed as "bizarre" and controversial.<ref name="netflix-afflicted" /> Netflix has been asked to remove the series, and was sued by four of the patients featured.<ref name="netflix-afflicted" /><ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/netflix-afflicted-documentary-sue-lawsuit-controversy-a9046421.html | title = Netflix sued over presenting Afflicted documentary subjects as ‘lazy, crazy hypochondriacs’ | date = 2019-08-08 | website = The Independent|language=en | access-date = 2020-05-17}}</ref> The legal case is still ongoing.<ref name="law360-Mar">{{Cite web | url = https://www.law360.com/articles/1249403/netflix-says-afflicted-subjects-signed-away-control | title = Netflix Says 'Afflicted' Subjects Signed Away Control | last = Law360| first = | author-link = | date = | website = law360.com|language=en| archive-url = | archive-date = |url-status = | access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref> Shortly after the release of ''Afflicted'' many of the patients featured protested to Netflix about how they were represented in the series and claiming it contained significant medical errors.<ref name="Afflictedletter" /> Four patients sued, and the case has not been on decided yet.<ref name="law360-Mar" /> ==Open letter== On Sep 18, 2018, four patients and several of their relatives and carers who featured in Afflicted sent an open letter to Netflix to protest at the finished series.<ref name="Afflictedletter">{{Cite web |url = https://medium.com/@afflicted/open-letter-to-netflix-regarding-the-afflicted-docuseries-d2b5263c9eb6| title = Open Letter to Netflix Regarding the “Afflicted” Docuseries | date = Sep 18, 2018}}</ref> The open letter was signed by Bekah’s boy and brother, Jill and her Janine, Jamison, Pillar, and over 30 doctors, film makers, advocates and writers. Key points made in the open letter: * Misrepresentation of patients and questionable tactics, including stating that the illness would not be presented as psychosomatic before filming and that it would be a documentary series not reality TV, arranging some of the more "questionable" medical visits, and suggesting to Jamison be drugged so he could travel when too ill to do so * Omission or de-emphasis of patients' diagnoses and laboratory findings, including Bekah' and Pilar's diagnosis of Common Variable Immunodeficiency Disorder, which is life-threatening disease and not controversial, Bekah's positive test for [[Lyme disease]], Jill's and Star's [[Hashimoto's thyroiditis|autoimmune disease diagnosis]], Jake's tachycardia and his low blood cell counts which need regular monitoring by a hematologist/oncologist. *Exclusion of research findings, particularly on [[myalgic encephalomyelitis]], [[mast cell activation syndrome]] which underlies some of the patients' mold and chemical sensitivities, and chronic [[Lyme disease]]. *Exclusion of research scientists *Inclusion of alternative practioners while excluding prominent doctors in the relevant fields. The psychiatrist interviewed about psychosomatic illness was not a specialist in the field. *The letter requested that Netflix remove the series<ref name="Afflictedletter" /> ==Articles and blogs== ===By the patients and families=== *[https://medium.com/@afflicted/the-truth-behind-netflixs-afflicted-92e92d32cd7c The Truth Behind Netflix’s ‘Afflicted’] - * [https://medium.com/@nickdinnerstein/how-afflicted-manipulates-facts-omits-evidence-and-insinuates-lies-to-discredit-chronic-physical-55e8057b05d9 How Afflicted Manipulates Facts, Omits Evidence, and Insinuates Lies to Discredit Chronic Physical Illnesses] - Nick Dinnerstein (Bekah's brother) with Bekah Dinnerstein * [https://medium.com/@jessebercowetz/the-problem-with-the-netflix-series-afflicted-1953e09b5205 The Problem with the Netflix series, ‘Afflicted’] - Jesse Bercowetz, with Bekah Dinnerstein * [https://medium.com/@afflicted/jake-e9662751d61c The question that could and should have been answered] - Jake Sidewell * [https://jamisonwrites.com/2018/08/20/netflix-and-hill-the-true-story-behind-afflicted/ Netflix and Hill: The True Story Behind “Afflicted”] - Jamison Hill * [https://medium.com/@afflicted/jill-f388a8a5ce4c Jill] - Jill Maxi Edelstein * [https://medium.com/@afflicted/janine-bcaf0123ff34 Janine Feczko] (Jill's fiancé) * [https://medium.com/@pily_const/the-truth-about-the-most-hated-character-in-afflicted-f7a4ee0e7cfb The Truth About the Most Hated “Character” In Afflicted] - Pilar Olave ===By advocates and allies=== * Fall 2018, [https://www.lymedisease.org/members/lyme-times/2018-fall-advocacy/netflix-afflicted-me-cfs/ Netflix’s Afflicted is Inflicting Damage on the Chronically Ill ME/CFS Patient] - [[Julie Rehmeyer]] * 2018, [http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-rehmeyer-scientific-ethical-lapses-in-neflix-series-on-chronic-illness-20180917-story.html Op-Ed: Netflix is televising prejudice against the chronically ill] - Julie Rehmeyer, LA Times * [http://occupyme.net/2018/08/21/after-the-afflicted-freak-show/ After the Afflicted freak show] - [[Jennie Spotila]], Occupy ME ===By film crew=== *[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/afflicted-responds-controversy-lena-dunham-monica-lewinsky-letter-1145200 'Afflicted' Executive Producer Responds to Controversy, Protest Letter Signed by Lena Dunham, Monica Lewinsky] - Hollywood Reporter ===General=== * 2018, [https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-6091103/Stars-new-Netflix-chronic-illness-say-editing-look-crazy.html Stars of new Netflix series about chronic illness slam the show for making them look 'crazy' - after off-camera tests proved they are sane] - Natalie Rahhal, Dailymail.com *2018, [https://www.mvtimes.com/2018/09/26/under-the-microscope/ Under the microscope] - Lucas Thors, Martha's Vineyard Times * 2018, [https://www.theguardian.com/society/commentisfree/2018/sep/18/sorry-netflix-we-dont-need-another-freak-show Sorry, Netflix: we don't need another freak show] - Frances Ryan, The Guardian :"Afflicted has enraged its participants, but it wouldn’t be the first TV show to use people with disabilities as entertainment fodder"—Julie Rehmeyer *2018, [https://www.huffpost.com/entry/netflix-afflicted-chronic-illness_n_5b98200fe4b0511db3e6d954 How Netflix’s ‘Afflicted’ Failed the Chronic Illness Community] - Caitlin Flynn, Huffington Post ==Online presence== * [https://www.netflix.com/title/80188953 Official website] ==Learn more== * [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8792570 imdb] * [https://medium.com/@afflicted/open-letter-to-netflix-regarding-the-afflicted-docuseries-d2b5263c9eb6 Open letter to Netflix re: Afflicted Docuseries] ==See also== * [[Multiple chemical sensitivity]] * [[Mold illness]] * [[Electrohypersensitivity]] * [[Stigma and discrimination]] * [[Psychologization]] * [[Ethical issues]] * [[Medically unexplained symptoms]] * [[Voices from the Shadows]] ==References== {{Reflist}} [[Category:Film]] [[Category:TV]]
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