NBC News article. I couldn't see this referenced previously on S4ME. As they say: "there's a lot to unpack". I wasn't aware of this story until its recent revisit, but I expect some of our American members will remember it well from the late-oughts.
In summary:
Desiree, a young, fit person has flu vaccine and quickly develops a severe movement disorder, characterised as dystonia, also affecting her voice.
Viewing audience horrified, anti-vaccination campaigners such as Jenny McCarthy pick up the story and run with it heavily, causing a reduction in community vaccination at the time of the swine flu outbreak.
In the context of being a young woman, she is disbelieved by many who say she is faking it.
Without examining the patient, simply looking at the video, neurologists diagnose her with psychogenic movement disorder - later FND.
Desperate for help that is not forthcoming from conventional medicine, she is seen by the usual parade of charlatans, one of whom literally says: "only I can help you."
She improves - significantly though not completely. A follow-up sting/gotcha interview paints her as a fraud and faker.
Subsequently she has a degree in molecular biology and wants to work with vaccines. She is uncertain whether the vaccine caused her illness - infection or something else. She has distanced herself from the anti-vaccination movement that took advantage of her.
In summary:
Desiree, a young, fit person has flu vaccine and quickly develops a severe movement disorder, characterised as dystonia, also affecting her voice.
Viewing audience horrified, anti-vaccination campaigners such as Jenny McCarthy pick up the story and run with it heavily, causing a reduction in community vaccination at the time of the swine flu outbreak.
In the context of being a young woman, she is disbelieved by many who say she is faking it.
Without examining the patient, simply looking at the video, neurologists diagnose her with psychogenic movement disorder - later FND.
Desperate for help that is not forthcoming from conventional medicine, she is seen by the usual parade of charlatans, one of whom literally says: "only I can help you."
She improves - significantly though not completely. A follow-up sting/gotcha interview paints her as a fraud and faker.
Subsequently she has a degree in molecular biology and wants to work with vaccines. She is uncertain whether the vaccine caused her illness - infection or something else. She has distanced herself from the anti-vaccination movement that took advantage of her.
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