New Medical Disorders And Drug Sales, Parental Responsibility Following Death Of Rare Gorilla

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Twenty years ago, conditions like overactive bladder and low testosterone levels weren’t commonly accepted medical disorders, but today they make up big markets for drug companies. A reporter looks into these new disorders and how they impact drug sales in America. We also take your calls on commonly misspelled words, and a 17-year-old endangered silverback was shot and killed this weekend after a toddler fell into its enclosure. We discuss who was responsible following the outrage.

Featured in this Show

  • Blame, Finger Pointing At Parents Follow Death Of Gorilla At Cincinnati Zoo

    Cincinnati Zoo officials made the split decision to shoot and kill Harambe, an endangered, 17-year-old silverback gorilla this past weekend after a small boy fell into the animal’s enclosure. This decision caused immediate backlash internationally both for the zoo and boy’s parents, with many people placing the blame on the child’s mother.

    A Change.org petition alleges that the child climbing into the enclosure was indicative of negligence at home and called for the parents to be investigated.

    Among the detractors is well-known animal conservationist Jeff Corwin, who told Fox 25 News in Boston that zoos can’t replace parents when it comes to watching their children.

    “Zoos aren’t your babysitter, ” he told the news outlet. “Take a break from the cell phone and the selfie stick and the texting. Connect with your children, be responsible for your children.”

    Corwin continued by saying that the gorilla paid the ultimate price for the mother losing sight of her son.

    But Lenore Skenazy, author of the blog and book “Free Range Kids” and an advocate for more hands-off parenting, argues that blaming the mother isn’t only unnecessary but unfair.

    “What bothers me the most is the idea that people would second guess both the zoo and especially the mother as if the mother must have been bad because her child got away from her and therefore must be negligence,” she said. “But I don’t know anybody who is a parent who hasn’t had an experience or more of their kid disappearing.”

    Skenazy said that she is among those mourning Harambe and acknowledges the significant loss that his death was for the species. However, she said that parents can’t feasibly watch their children every second of the day and that most parents wouldn’t expect something like this to happen on a trip to the zoo.

    “You’re allowed to trust the odds,” she said. “For 40 years, this zoo was perfectly safe. No child or adult for that matter, had ever gotten into this exhibit. So, when something really weird and out of the ordinary happens, that you couldn’t possibly have predicted, I don’t see why we jump to blame. Except that we love to blame. Period.”

    Skenazy said that while people will want to blame the parents, perfection can’t be expected from parents. Moreover, she said she believes that people are quick to blame the family and zoo officials because they are mourning the loss of the gorilla.

    “Let’s turn this into something good,” she said. “And figure out a way to support more gorillas in the wild. Let’s support the (World) Wildlife Federation. Let’s support sanctuaries in the countries that the gorillas come from. Let’s do something that makes the world a better place.”

  • Investigative Reporter Looks Into Drug Sales Behind New Medical Disorders

    Disorders like overactive bladder and low testosterone levels weren’t even accepted in mainstream medicine a couple decades ago, but now there are a number of similar conditions and drugs to treat those issues. An investigative reporter looked into the growth of non-life-threatening conditions and the growth of markets for drug companies.

  • Parenting Criticized Following Cincinnati Zoo Gorilla Scandal

    This weekend a small boy fell into the gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo. The child was confronted by a silverback gorilla and was dragged throughout the moat, prompting zoo officials to shoot and kill the endangered 17-year-old animal. Outrage ensued online and promptly criticized the mother for her parenting. We’re joined by Lenore Skenazy, founder of the blog Free Range Kids about parenting and responsibility.

Episode Credits

  • Rob Ferrett Host
  • Veronica Rueckert Host
  • J. Carlisle Larsen Producer
  • Matt Oleson Producer
  • Lenore Skenazy Guest
  • John Fauber Guest