I accuse Channel 10 of rating piracy

I accuse Channel 10 of Rating Piracy

By David Verveer

I am extremely angry because of cheap trick performed by Channel 10 of the Israeli Television, who, only in order to get higher rating caused un-called for panic in the continuous growing elderly population in Israel.

Sounds harsh, but the truth has to be said, as the purpose of the entire program last Thursday, at nine o'clock in the evening, on channel 10, was to lure the viewers away from the popular news cast on channel one, with a populist program, in which a journalist and a medical doctor discussed the danger of mixing medications and pseudo medicines, food additions, natural and alternative medicines, etc., with remarks such as, "this is killing you".

I am not an expert in medicine and healthcare, but there are points I do know:

1 – The average age in this country is growing in an enormous rate, mostly due to our good health care and health control.

2 – Like me, most people do not have medical knowledge and rely entirely on the advise given by our personal physician, who, knowing our health history, the results of our medical tests and current safe health care, keeps us healthy, and makes it possible to reach a really old age (ten years ago the 80's, now 90 years old).

3 – Elderly people, and I don't put an age limit to this group, have naturally developed medical problems, such as High blood pressure, diabetics, heart problems, rheumatism, and I could go on like this, but surely you understand what I am talking about.

4 – Our own house doctor is responsible of keeping all these problems under control, and to make sure, one medicine doesn't clash with another, for example, I am relatively healthy, but take daily 5 different medicines, I have no idea why or what each pill does to me, but I trust my doctor, as he is supposed to know what he is doing. If you do not believe in your doctor, choose some one else, as he is the person who enables you celebrate your next birthday.

5 – The elderly population (especially the women in our group) are very health conscious, and are prepared to try anything, from vitamins, to skin treatment, all in order to feel young and healthy, and indeed, taking medicines or vitamins, without consulting your doctor is stupid and dangerous. On the other hand, questioning the doctor's choice is useless, and again, if you do not believe in him, change him immediately, as this is really a question of life and death.

6 – So what do I have against this program broadcasted on channel ten, is that they attacked defenseless people, by telling them, that they will die, if they continue taking this pill, together with that medicine, which might be true in some cases, but in most cases, a balanced risk taken by your doctor, knowing your history, your reactions and your weaknesses.
By spreading this kind of panic amongst the elderly population, they only created chaos, without helping anything. People are not sure anymore which medication they are allowed to take and which not, phoning or seeing your doctor urgently, causes stagnation in the health care, and the medical staff, which are fighting to have more time for every patient, are now disturbed with stupid questions, as, even though, the patient is alarmed and frightened by the TV, your life is not in immediate danger, no harm if you wait to your next appointment, in order to ask him, if this and that do not clash.

7 - I am also angry with Yaron London and Motty Kishenbaum, in their popular and good news program, who helped to promote this stupid broadcast, by interviewing the lady journalist and the distinguished doctor / professor. They, Yaron and Motty belong to our own age group, they should have understood the panic such program would cause.

8 – If this program would have somehow helped the health conditions of the viewers, I would not have protested, but by announcing "You are killing yourself", you don't cure, you create panic, the viewer can not judge and has no background information how to cope with the panic such sentences cause.

9 – If ratings is what channel ten is after, they should continue with programs like "the gnome and the beauty", (my grandson, age 9 loves it), and cooking lessons, but stay away from pseudo intellectual programs, such as the program under discussion.

10- Even commercial channels should have a certain amount of responsibility to understand that creation of panic is not a good policy for the elder.