Law & Order "Talking Points" 2-2-07 SPOILERS

[bpurcell]

I wanted to start a thread on this to express my shock that Law & Order would make such a huge mistake in their research. In this show, the suspect has Parkinson's disease. The first half of the show, he shows no signs of shaking (no problem there). Then on the first day of trial, he is shaking. The lawyer explains that his client is shaking because "he is not on his medication". He then has a doctor on the stand saying that the symptoms of Parkinson's includes uncontrollable shaking and the medication stops the shaking.

Now anyone familiar with the disease knows that the exact OPPOSITE is true. Parkinson's causes the nervous system to stop working and extreme cases end up unable to move. The medication that allows them to move has a side effect that causes the shaking. Patients usually are taking one medication to allow them to function, and another to help lessen the shaking.

Why oh why would Law & Order make such a huge mistake? If it was a small part of the show, I wouldn't have minded so much, but this error of fact was used to convict him (he took his medication that day, so obviously he wasn't shaking to accidentally fire the gun, according the the prosecution). Since the average age of L&O watchers is much older than me, many of the viewers would know enough to see this error.

[Jesda]

Charlotte Ross is hot.

Click at work, get fired: http://www.furisdead.com/page/ad-ross1.jpg

[balboa dave]

I wanted to start a thread on this to express my shock that Law & Order would make such a huge mistake in their research. In this show, the suspect has Parkinson's disease. The first half of the show, he shows no signs of shaking (no problem there). Then on the first day of trial, he is shaking. The lawyer explains that his client is shaking because "he is not on his medication". He then has a doctor on the stand saying that the symptoms of Parkinson's includes uncontrollable shaking and the medication stops the shaking.

Now anyone familiar with the disease knows that the exact OPPOSITE is true. Parkinson's causes the nervous system to stop working and extreme cases end up unable to move. The medication that allows them to move has a side effect that causes the shaking. Patients usually are taking one medication to allow them to function, and another to help lessen the shaking.

Why oh why would Law & Order make such a huge mistake? If it was a small part of the show, I wouldn't have minded so much, but this error of fact was used to convict him (he took his medication that day, so obviously he wasn't shaking to accidentally fire the gun, according the the prosecution). Since the average age of L&O watchers is much older than me, many of the viewers would know enough to see this error.While I have no first hand knowledge, every web doctor site I visit lists tremors while at rest as one of the major symptoms. So it is correct, but perhaps not to the degree depicted. Further, as the show is derived from current events, the defendant's behavior was roughly based on Michael J. Fox's PSA for stem cell research, where he exhibited similar tremors, and later explained he went off of his medicines to make it. Rush Limbaugh made a big stink about it, even mocked Fox's movements. The Charlotte Ross character was an extreme compilation of both Rush and Ann Coulter. So I don't see where this is so far fetched as you seem to believe.

[newsposter]

This felt like an ep of 7th heaven to me. Was brenda hampton in the house? Forgetting about factual inaccuracies or not, i just thought this was more preachy than most eps of L/O, not sure why. Maybe the politics crap.

and if people are really this polorized, no wonder there's such much conflict out there...look at someone the wrong way they will shoot you..calm down for goodness sakes

[USAFSSO]

How did the ep end. I was watching it buffered, moved the remote and accidentally changed the channel with 10 min left. Happened just after the guy knocked off the water pitcher. I really don't want to find it and download it. Thanks

[Bars & Tone]

Yeah, I'm gonna have to go with Balboa Dave on this. I don't think they took the liberties that you're aghast about.
While it may be true that patients that present with the symptoms that our defendant did may represent a small fraction of the Parkinson's population, "resting tremor" is definitely a symptom of PD. This is not to say, of course, that the portrayal might not have been a little exaggerated for dramatic effect.

[Jesda]

How did the ep end. I was watching it buffered, moved the remote and accidentally changed the channel with 10 min left. Happened just after the guy knocked off the water pitcher. I really don't want to find it and download it. Thanks

Typical L&O ending. Jack questions suspect, suspect flips out, jury brings out a guilty verdict.

[bpurcell]

Further, as the show is derived from current events, the defendant's behavior was roughly based on Michael J. Fox's PSA for stem cell research, where he exhibited similar tremors, and later explained he went off of his medicines to make it.

That's actually incorrect. Here is a quote from a Katie Couric interview regarding the political ads:

from AP article
In a response to charges by conservative talk-show host Rush Limbaugh, Michael J. Fox defended his appearance in recent political campaign ads, saying he was neither acting nor off his medication for Parkinson’s disease.

On the contrary, he had been overmedicated, the actor said during an interview aired on Thursday’s “CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.”

“The irony of it is that I was too medicated,” Fox told Couric, adding that his jumpy condition as he spoke to her reflected “a dearth of medication — not by design. I just take it, and it kicks in when it kicks in.”

Others may have misunderstood my OP. I have no problem with the entire storyline. I agree this was loosely connected to Fox and Coulter/Rush. The storyline didn't bother me; it's the incorrect info on Parkinson's that I have a problem with. Parkinson's cause immobility; the medication causes the the shaking. Patients do get brief tremors of the hands and feet, but not the constant shaking of the whole body displayed.

An example of this is Mohamed Ali, who also has Parkinson's. When you see him at events, it's almost like he's a statue. It appears that he is choosing not taking near the amount of medication that Fox is.

[daperlman]

Did Michael Richards write the defensive's closing?

[bruinfan]

it's the incorrect info on Parkinson's that I have a problem with. Parkinson's cause immobility; the medication causes the the shaking. Patients do get brief tremors of the hands and feet, but not the constant shaking of the whole body displayed.

An example of this is Mohamed Ali, who also has Parkinson's. When you see him at events, it's almost like he's a statue. It appears that he is choosing not taking near the amount of medication that Fox is.
early symptoms of Parkinson's include tremor, that vary in severity. As the disease progresses, the tremors become less, and the stiffness becomes worse. The resting tremors they get are usually rhythmic, and not spontaneous and out of control like they showed. this is usually a symptom of Huntington's disease.. and referred to as chorea... which is uncontrollable, random spasms/loss of control.

while they did take liberties, it's not way way off. The fact that he's young, and obviously early in the disease helps. another unlikelly scenario is if his tremors are that uncontrollable, his meds probably wouldn't fix him 100%, or at least to the point of not noticing at least some kind of movement dysfunction. And the meds usually have a on time and off time, so you're never good all day.

and... bad acting/directing.. fire the technical advisors!