On 8/20, one of the top headlines on AOL read "Michael Phelps Proved Docs Wrong With Help From Mom". I was intrigued. It then pointed to a few links to read. There was an interview on Goodhousekeeping.com where I found that his mother is now an official ADHD spokesperson for McNeil Pediatrics which by the way is a pharmaceutical division making ADHD drugs. It was otherwise light reading but there was nothing which proved those evil doctors were wrong. The next link pointed to a NY Times article where it detailed Michael's classic ADHD behavior as a young child and the terrible things teachers were saying about his future. It also discussed how his family doctor, whose children were also competitive swimmers, recommended meds for little Michael. The meds worked a little but due to the stigma of taking pills at the nurse's office, Michael asked to come off them and the mom consulted again with his family doc before doing so. Luckily, Michael's swimming is what helped him through his struggles in life. Deborah Phelps, who is a school administrator, is a big part of her son's life and openly states she is on the fence on the use of medications for ADHD. But that isn't the story. The story is the AOL headline: "Michael Phelps Proved Docs Wrong With Help From Mom". Where the hell in those two pieces was the doctor proved wrong? As far as I can tell, the family doctor was very flexible and helpful. What I think is going on is that the same old tale is perpetuated - when someone overcomes their diagnosis and makes it big there has to be an evil doctor who was proven wrong. The headline writer for AOL must have never even read the stories in the links but couldn't let go of stereotyping us doctors. We are discriminated against once more. I am so tired of being put down by man!
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