Healthcare’s most memorable TV moments in 2013

With the Obamacare rollout of the health insurance exchanges and its leadup, healthcare has certainly held the media’s eye in 2013 more than usual. But most of healthcare’s best TV moments this year were unpredictable. One Texas state senator who literally took a stand shaped policy. A famous doctor made a shocking reversal. An ad campaign launched (and may have sunk a company). In 2013, healthcare’s best TV moments were big and surprising.

Well, except for No.1.

President Barack Obama’s apology and individual mandate “fix” speech

Even if you were too busy to get serious couch time this year, there’s no chance you missed all the Obamacare news. From the strategic marketing campaigns to the government shutdown to the glitchy rollout, in 2013, the media plastered every wall with ACA updates. Of course, the Obamacare rollout got the lion’s share of healthcare media attention on television. But one of the most replayed television moments isn’t from 2013. It’s from as far back as 2009: “If you like your healthcare plan, you can keep your healthcare plan.”

That plus the glitchy Obamacare rollout forced the president into a frank, awkward and heated speech in November this year. “I think it’s legitimate for (the American people) to expect me to win back some credibility on this healthcare law in general. . . . That’s on me,” he said. “We fumbled the rollout of this healthcare law.”

Dick Cheney validates Homeland plot twist

My favorite healthcare television moment of 2012 was Homeland‘s ingenious assassination plot, in which Nicholas Brody, a defected Marine, kills the vice president by entering a code for his pacemaker. It’s a situation where fiction has come to dictate reality–a much bigger discussion around cybersecurity of wireless medical devices has ensued. (Okay, okay, maybe the 2010 NEJM article had something to do with it, too.)

While most heart patients have no need to worry over such a far-fetched plot (the devices are fairly secure and probably no one wants to take the effort in killing us wirelessly), a very few have enough enemies to consider this threat.

On 60 Minutes, Dick Cheney said watching Homeland took a surreal turn when he realized the plot that was unfolding.

“I was aware of the danger…that existed…I found it credible,” he said. “I know from the experience we had and the necessity for adjusting my own device, that it was an accurate portrayal of what was possible.”

Dr. Eric Topol gives Stephen Colbert an ear exam using his smartphone

Topol came on the show to promote his book, and ended up giving Colbert an ear exam. The audience gasped (seemingly in awe and in disgust) when an image of Colbert’s ear appeared on the smartphone screen.

Colbert to Topol: “I have a smartphone. Am I a doctor? . . . Is Siri a doctor?”

While the doctor showed off how the technology and remote home monitoring could work as preventative medicine, Colbert does bring up one point that still needs to be discussed: How is the data gathered being sold? Or, in Colbert’s words: “Will I get a text message asking me if I want 20 percent off caskets?”

Wendy Davis’ filibuster

That one time you would rather have been watching C-SPAN.

Wendy Davis filibustered the Texas State Senate for 13 hours, even donning a back brace, in order to protect women’s healthcare access, in particular access to abortions. The bill would have pretty much shut down abortion clinics within the state. Davis read statements from citizens that would otherwise have gone unheard. Because of her filibuster, the bill failed to pass. This act of will has set Davis up for a gubernatorial run.

“These decisions are hard enough without placing extra limits on them,” she said.

Watch her comment on the experience above. “Texans know the voices in our state that shout the loudest haven’t been the ones that speak for everyone,” Davis later said.

To watch a clip from the filibuster, click here.

The moment the spectrum of Obamacare ads got too weird to handle: Enter creepy Uncle Sam

When it came to Obamacare and anti-Obamacare ads, there were already Paul Bunyan ads. Lame jingles. Patronizing on both sides of the aisle. But this terrifying and dare I say irresponsible ad took the most memorable cake.

In September 2013, the creepiest Obamacare ad came out. Uncle Sam appears in the gynecologist’s office to perform the exam. How does he appear? His head pops out from between the patient’s legs.

A young woman says she’s signed up for Obamacare and Uncle Sam “plays doctor.” This could have been a very clever marketing strategy, if it weren’t for the extremely disturbing undertones the setting offers. (Would you want Uncle Sam instead of a doctor in surgery, for instance?) It preys on women and on sexual anxiety. Classy.

Kathleen Sebelius throws herself under the bus on CNN

Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius told Dr. Sanjay Gupta  President Barack Obama was never told about the website test-run crash or insurers’ concerns before the Oct. 1 Obamacare roll-out. She continues to shield the president from blame. This instance, before her hearing, made many viewers raise their eyebrows.

Aug. 5: 23andMe launches its TV health ads

Now no longer available for public viewing, 23andMe launched a television ad campaign titled “Portraits of Health.” This campaign may have been what sent the FDA over the edge concerning how the spit kits were being marketed. If not, it certainly didn’t help. Since its Nov. 22 warning letter (which said it could no longer share all that interesting health data), the ads have been pulled.

“Our goal with this campaign is to provide consumer education and raise awareness about the potential of personal genetics, while also establishing 23andMe as a recognized and trusted brand,” Andy Page, president of 23andMe, said on the company’s blog.

More from the blog post:

The ads feature actors who are also 23andMe customers. Their stories are real and offer real insight into how using their results helped them take control over their own health.

If there’s an overall message it’s that personal genetics will become an integral part of the future of health care. . . .

Thanks to the powers of the Internet, you can still view an “unofficial” version of the commercial posted to YouTube above.

Tom Hanks announces he has diabetes on Late Night

We’ve all heard the diabetes population is growing. It was only a matter of time before a Boomer, a beloved celebrity was diagnosed and put a face on the statistic. Tom Hanks announced his Type 2 diabetes diagnosis on David Letterman’s “Late Night.” He tries to laugh it off, saying he just needs to weigh the same amount he did in high school, 96 pounds, to rid himself of the disease. “Well I’m gonna have Type 2 diabetes.”

Dr. Sanjay Gupta changes his mind on weed on national television

In his documentary “Weed,” Gupta interviews growers, patients and scientists. After all his research, he reverses his ideas about medical marijuana use. From his blog that accompanies the video on CNN’s site:

Long before I began this project, I had steadily reviewed the scientific literature on medical marijuana from the United States and thought it was fairly unimpressive. Reading these papers five years ago, it was hard to make a case for medicinal marijuana. I even wrote about this in a TIME magazine article, back in 2009, titled “Why I would Vote No on Pot.”

Well, I am here to apologize. . . .

It doesn’t have a high potential for abuse, and there are very legitimate medical applications.

In 2013, healthcare’s most memorable moments on the silver screen ran the gamut. There a big lie was revealed, there were gaffes, sure, but also displays of true courage.

For the year’s most hilarious Obamacare jokes, click here.

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