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“Jeopardy!” is being taken to task for a clue during Monday night’s episode.
As Entertainment Weekly reported, the clue read, “Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome is also known as Grinch syndrome because this organ is too small.”
While the correct response is “What is the heart?” the clue itself is misleading, and based on a disproven understanding of the disorder.
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According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, POTS is a blood circulation disorder in which “an excessively reduced volume of blood returns to the heart after an individual stands up from a lying down position,” resulting in “a rapid increase in heartbeat of more than 30 beats per minute, or a heart rate that exceeds 120 beats per minute, within 10 minutes of rising.”
In fact, POTS has since fallen within what’s now known as dysautonomia, described by Dysautonomia International as “an umbrella term used to describe several different medical conditions that cause a malfunction of the Autonomic Nervous System.”
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The organization issued a tweet to let “Jeopardy!” producers that “no one with any credibility calls POTS ‘Grinch Syndrome,’” insisting that it’s “an offensive term.”
This appeared on Jeopardy tonight. Grinch syndrome is an offensive term. Can you imagine Jeopardy making light of cancer or MS patients with a “funny” name for their debilitating health condition? Not acceptable. We’d love to see real questions about the autonomic nervous system. pic.twitter.com/kqetij1Jwx
— Dysautonomia Intl. (@Dysautonomia) June 22, 2021
Actress Mara Wilson of “Matilda” fame suffers from dysautonomia, and also took to Twitter to let “Jeopardy!” producers know they’d gotten it wrong.
It’s also just not true! It was based on one doctor’s contentious theory proposed more than ten years ago. There’s no scientific consensus. Disappointed to see @Jeopardy spreading medical misinformation. https://t.co/BlWeR2EvOM
— Mara “Get Rid of the Nazis” Wilson (@MaraWilson) June 22, 2021
An apology was eventually issued via the “Jeopardy!” Twitter account, admitting that the show had “used an outdated and inaccurate term for this disorder, and we apologize.”
Dysautonomia International accepted the apology, and shared a brief video to explain what POTS actually is.
Yesterday’s program included a clue about postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). After hearing from the community, we found we used an outdated and inaccurate term for this disorder, and we apologize.
— Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) June 22, 2021
Thank you @Jeopardy. We accept your apology and appreciate that you were willing to listen to our patient community. We’d love to see some autonomic nervous system clues in the future! We encourage everyone to learn about POTS by watching this brief video: https://t.co/BYH9JsedgZ
— Dysautonomia Intl. (@Dysautonomia) June 22, 2021