A couple of things, I doubt Dr Phil comes up with the show topics. He has a big team, it would be rare he sits around deciding shows. However the positive of having your own show, it will be your opinion. You're not going to get on and say the opposite. But as far as coming up with the solutions, it would be a a team effort. It's like ready, steady cook. The chefs don't have 2 minutes to think about what to cook,they stop filming for half an hour and about 4 people come on and write a menu!!! Very little to do with the actual "tv personalities".
His show is for entertainment, yes just like Jerry springers is, and majority of people watching want to feel better about themselves, therefore watching a show like this will do just that.
I would also think there is a reason for this show. Maybe there have been some recent problems with some particular homebirths. One thing is, he will have someone on the other side of the argument.
People will always rip apart anything on tv, in a book, newspaper etc, that's human nature it seems, but I would also think he has helped some people too.
But when it comes down to it, anyone in the minority can be entertainment and for some reason the audience finds a comfort in this. Its' all for ratings, don't be fooled.
I really dont have a problem with it either. It is quite possible that he already has a few people lined up with positive home birth experiences and he just wants to show both sides of the story. It is what good journalism is all about - balanced views.
I think alot of people here are jumping to conclusions and making alot of assumptions. The show may or may not be for or against home births - but everyone is assuming things about it before it has even aired!
In my veiw making an assumption about something without having all of the facts (such as actually viewing the show) just undermines any opinion you might hold on the topic. How can you condem something without all the relevant information? It is no better to condemn Dr Phils show on home births, then it would be for anyone to condemn homebirths themselves without having researched and made an informed decision.
As such I reserve the right to judgement after I have seen the show, and not to leap to any conclusions because of some seemingly skewed questions.
Furthermore, whilst I may or maynot then agree with the general premises of the show and Dr Phil's opinions in relation to home birthing, It won't seriously affect my opinion of the guy (which is pretty neutral atm). I mean there are alot of people whom I both agree and disagree with vehemenantly (sp?) in Life - Some of those I disagree on topics most passionately are some of my closest friends and relatives (not to mention fellow BB members), but a person can have a disagreeable opinion and still be a decent person.
I would hope (annd expect) that those on the board would show myself the curtesy of expressing my veiws in full about an issue BEFORE condemning me, and I fail to see why that same curtesy should not be extended to others - no matter their forum for expressing their opinion. And I have as yet to read any study, article or veiw any television or radio show that isn't in someway fundamentally biased. Humans are a flawed species and hold personal biases unlike any other creature. Fact are often skewed or ignored to fit in a persons personal truth about the world - and being famous does not make one exempt from such flaws.
Let's hope Rikki Lake (Home Birth supporter) responds to him.
I used to think that Dr Phil had some good advice to offer the masses of mainstream 'folks' out there... but more and more frequently i would find myself at odds with his message... especially his pro-war stance. I haven't watched him in years. Oh well, at least it gets people talking!
I think its a blatant attack on homebirthing and I also think alot of his other "topics" are ridiculous! Whether he actually decides these topics etc or not, HE is the person this show represents and all negative and positive feedback reflects on him.
He is in a position of authority and there may just be some very young people who listen to him as a learned figure and would take what he says as gospel. So he has a responsibility to give his viewers both sides of an argument and let them make their own minds up.
I thought about sending him my thoughts on his birthing/pregnancy topics but I cant do it without getting extremely narky so I will leave it others with better language skills than I.
Oh Dr Phil I watch it sometimes because he just makes me laugh. He's supposed to be a psychologist but omg, well I have too many things to say here lol. (I'm a psychologist). Sometimes I do wish I could say some things he says to my clients tho.
Webmegg and Misty, you may well be right, but the discussion here is based on the link that Kelly first posted about the 'requirements' tfor this particular show - when you look at that - it certainly doesnt give one the impression that it will paint homebirths in a favourable light does it?
Yep, Dr Phil gives me the irrits as well. I watch it for the entertainment value. A bit like a tame jerry springer sometimes. I think he needs to do more topics with pros and cons. This is a very biased question and I imagine that it was done for one reason and that is PUBLICITY! And guess what...we're all talking about it.
I think anybody that has had a homebirth whether traumatic or perfect should write in. What a wally but guess what, I'm not a sheep so will not be letting Dr Phil or anyone else influence how I should/would give birth.
It is quite possible that he already has a few people lined up with positive home birth experiences and he just wants to show both sides of the story. It is what good journalism is all about - balanced views.
I agree Tonydayl and hope he does look at both sides of the story. Why pretend that there aren't risks - sometimes I tired of this "glossing over" the more difficult elements of birth and baby - these issues exist - lets at least talk about them!
Of course I, like a few others who have posted would surely have lost my life and my baby if not for the superb care of medical staff. The scary thing is that I could easily have considered myself a good candidate for a home birth - well prepared, fabulously healthy pregnancy, baby in a good position. So yes, I show my bias there!
Sophia i had a homebirth and i assure you, if it begins to go wrong they call an ambulance! The AVERAGE emergency c-section takes place close to 3 hours after it is prescribed. Yes, some are done much faster, but the AVERAGE is something like 2 hours 45 or something (which means some are a lot longer after!). I was about 12 mins from hospital by ambulance, 3 by heli-ambulance. Plenty of time for an emergency section, even if i was one of those very few women who got one in 20mins. And my midwives WERE "excellent medical staff".
Well, I gave birth in a hospital and my son nearly died thanks to the procedures. A homebirth would mean I gave birth and had a baby. So don't say hospitals are great all the time because they're not. They don't save lives - they just tell you they do when they kill you in the first place.
Why not just all apply to be on the show stating you had a bad home birth and then just be all positive when the cameras are rolling? Bingo! Result!
Personally, I don't watch chat shows. Sure, they may be on for 10 minutes after something or before something else but I don't watch them. I just can't be doing with it. Jeremy Vine is bad enough and I turn him off a lot!
^Bx, is right about the wait for an emergency c-section.
Once it became obvious that Imran wasn't going to come out the conventional exit my midwife made sure I was feeling nothing from the waist down and then I sat around for ages waiting for the ob and surgery to be prepped up. I was actually glad for the wait - it gave me a chance to get my head around it.
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I watch it sometimes because he just makes me laugh. He's supposed to be a psychologist but omg, well I have too many things to say here lol. (I'm a psychologist). Sometimes I do wish I could say some things he says to my clients tho.
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