Real-life 'Iron Man': Paralyzed surgeon uses standing wheelchair to perform surgeries (ABC News, 2017)

Real-life 'Iron Man': Paralyzed surgeon uses standing wheelchair to perform surgeries (ABC News, 2017)

These video clips, which aired on ABC News in 2017, characterize third-year general surgery resident Dr. Chris McCulloh as a "real-life 'Iron Man'" due to his ability to perform surgeries from his standing wheelchair. By presenting McCulloh as a superhero, the story reinforces the overcoming narrative that has long been imposed on disabled individuals. Technology extends the concept of overcoming beyond the individual to suggest that societal progress fueled by ingenuity and intellect—when paired with personal determination and grit—provides a pathway by which disabled people might achieve “normality.” This idea withholds the assumption that the problem of disability is located in the bodies, character, and attitudes of disabled people themselves.

Real-life ‘Iron Man’: Paralyzed surgeon uses standing wheelchair to perform surgeries [Video file]. (2017, September 13). ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/real-life-iron-man-paralyzed-surgeon-standing-wheelchair-49796465