On the January 18 episode of the daytime serial General Hospital Dr. Robin Scorpio’s fans had their wishes granted—the HIV-positive doc (played by Kimberly McCullough) learned that she is finally, 100 percent pregnant. Fans have long awaited the announcement: Rumors that Scorpio would bear the child of her on-again off-again boyfriend, the HIV-negative Dr. Patrick Drake, have been flying high for some time. As early as last September, in fact, POZ reported the possibility that an HIV-positive mommy story line would rock the make-believe town of Port Charles. At the time,
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Previous Comments:
comments 1 - 9 (of 9 total)
Sharon Douglass, Winter Park, 2008-02-19 10:28:49
Can we please have some responsibility when we write stories to use correct verbage. No one dies from AIDS. It is a syndrome, not a disease. People die from the consequences of HIV infection [disease], not from an acronym. Just look at what AIDS means..Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome... Where do you see the word disease? So it is inappropriate to say someone died from AIDS. If Soaps educate, lets start calling this disease what it is..HIV disease.
Allycen, Layton, UT, 2008-02-14 17:52:37
I think it is SO important that this story be told responsibly and accurately. Kudos to all involved in this campaign. Soaps DO open lots of eyes, and this is the perfect opportunity to open more eyes as well as some hearts!
Vic, , 2008-02-14 14:37:35
I am very happy too read that someone has finally spoke up about this storyline. I hope that GH will do the right thing with this. With GH putting Robin and Patrick together I believe it could teach men who are expecting a baby from and HIV positive woman, that it is possible and not too run away. It can be a beatiful thing. Please do the right thing.
Rachel, nyc, 2008-02-14 13:40:53
This is an amazing story and I wish with all my heart that it indeed will be given the time and treated with the grace that these great actors can bring and I hope GH does follow through. I fear that this wonderful story may be pushed to the side by GH and not take the time to deliver the message that needs to be told.I hope the network realizes how important this is and not to be taken as a ten second story and destroyed with nonsense that is not needed in the telling of this HIV pregnancy.
Rochell Giacalone, nyc, 2008-02-14 13:24:43
this is an amazing story and I with all my heart look forward to this beautiful story being told.Thank you
David, Hacienda Heights, 2008-02-14 02:59:06
I think it is important to have perhaps a realistic story and some roles on this issue. I wonder what my life could have been like to father children being HIV+. Shows that times are a changin'. I hope Robin has her baby and Dr. Drake follows through with wanting to be a father. Might show that there is still joy to be had with real problems.
Tonia, , 2008-02-13 23:03:57
I'd like to believe Ms Phelps when she says the HIV baby storyline will NOT be sensationalized. But so far I have yet to see that, nor have I seen enough airtime given to it. I'm hoping things will change soon.
Thank you for bringing attention to this very important storyline.
Tatiana, NYC, 2008-02-13 21:45:02
"Will General Hospital deliver? following its HIV pregnancy." I really like the title to this article. The answer so far is No. GH has done a poor job executing this story, which worries me for what's to come. It's gotten off to shaky start & it's somewhat disappointing. SoapNet recently aired a Robin marathon & just seeing the episode where her boyfriend, Stone, died of AIDS, made me realize how much this current story is missing. Not only in terms of facts, but also in terms of heart.
Courtney M, Nederland, Texas, 2008-02-13 21:42:37
Excellent job on this article! I have been anxiously awaiting it's arrival, as I was one of the SCRUBS board members that signed the open letter that was mentioned here. This storyline is very important to a LOT of people, and all we want as fans is for it to be told responsibly. They have plenty of other characters on this show to mess around with. Leave Patrick and Robin out of the soap cliches and let them have their baby as their fans prefer to see it.
Beth Benne, RN, is HIV negative, but
the virus has impacted her life. She currently supervises a biannual HIV/AIDS awareness week as
the director of the student health center at Pierce College, a
community commuter school in Woodland Hills, California.
Woman of the Month is supported by exclusive advertising from Gilead.
Overheard in the Women's Forum
"I think that it's OK to be angry. I am sometimes—it's natural—we are HIV positive. but I always try to not let myself stay there too long. Let yourself feel you are human. You should not beat yourself up about being angry."
