K-drama "Doctor Cha" Faces Criticism Over Portrayal of Crohn's Disease.

According to sources, the Korea Communications Standards Commission received a total of 43 complaints regarding the portrayal of Crohn's disease in the drama Doctor Cha's 7th episode.

The controversy surrounds a scene where a patient with Crohn's disease, played by Kim Hyun Mok, writes a will and goes up to the rooftop t commit suicide, expressing pessimism about life. Some critics argue that the portrayal of Crohn's disease in the drama could create a misunderstanding of the condition among the public.Furthermore, the drama has faced backlash for using derogatory language such as "wicked disease", and for a scene where the father-in-law and mother-in-law of a character with Crohn's disease say things like, "How can you marry while hiding this terrible disease?" and, "If this disease is hereditary, you should give up on marriage". These scenes have caused controversy as they are seen as stigmatizing and misleading.

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory condition that primarily affects the gastrointestinal tract, leading to the development of ulcers and other complications. It is considered to be an autoimmune disorder where the immune system mistakenly attacks the healthy tissues in the body. However, with proper treatment, patients with Crohn's disease can lead normal lives.

Although the drama is a work of fiction and may contain exaggerated elements, critics argue that the use of derogatory language and the portrayal of the disease could lead to a misunderstanding of the condition by viewers who are not familiar with the condition.

As a result, some online communities of Crohn's disease patients are calling for action to be taken, including the removal of related content from streaming platforms, and are filing complaints to the Korea Communications Standards Commission. 

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