Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this series deals with real people who have faced serious illnesses. Patients and family members tell their stories directly to the camera, which makes their emotional tales quite affecting. Photos and video footage of affected children and other family members can also easily bring on tears. Some stories might create an unrealistic fear of harmless symptoms. Topics include infants who fail to grow, women who have trouble conceiving, elderly men who suddenly go blind, and many more.
Families can discuss doctors. How are doctors typically portrayed on TV and in other media? Does that match how they're shown on this show? In general, what do you think of doctors and the health care system? What kind of expectations do you have for them? Other than doctors, who or what helps you stay healthy? What can you do to feel in control of their health?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Sierra Filucci
Documentary-style series MYSTERY DIAGNOSIS tells the stories of families' struggles with undiagnosed illnesses. Through one-on-one interviews with patients, family members, and health professionals -- as well as home video, photos, and brief re-enactments -- tales of painful, vexing, and emotionally draining medical problems emerge.
For example, one episode told the story of adopted twin boys Joey and Patrick. From their earliest moments, Joey's eating patterns and behavioral developments were different than Patrick's. Joey ate more vigorously than his brother, often vomited, cried and woke constantly, and eventually stopped growing. Despite many pediatrician visits, the boys' parents never received any helpful explanations for their son's mysterious symptoms.
But finally, after seeing yet another pediatrician and consulting specialists, the family learns that Joey has a rare kidney problem that's affecting his body's ability to retain nutrients and also causing his excess thirst, urination, cravings for salt, and light sensitivity. Though the illness has no cure, medication can greatly improve the prognosis and gives the family hope.
With each story told as an unfolding mystery and accompanied by emotionally charged issues of life and death, Mystery Diagnosis is compelling -- if not original -- television. While it's rated TV-G, sensitive kids may find the threat of painful illness and/or eventual death too much to bear. (One featured patient stokes potential anxiety by asking: How many people are walking around out there with an undiagnosed illness?)
Older fans might also enjoy Surgery Saved My Life, Diagnosis: Unknown, and, for a dramatized take on a similar theme, House.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentDepends on the episode, but some deal with fertility-related issues/topics. |
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ViolenceThreats to health from unknown causes. Close-up shots of blood being drawn. |
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LanguageOne episode contained a bleeped use of "s--t." Language is generally very tame. |
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Social BehaviorDoctors and patients search for answers to medical questions. Most of the featured people are Caucasian. |
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CommercialismDoctors' affiliations are listed -- Kaiser, for example. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoDiscussion of medications, images of pills. |
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