Talk Topic 1

 

Not so Fast...

     I'd like to discuss something that is really close to many medical related students' hearts. That is the show Grey's Anatomy. Don't get me wrong, it is a great unrealistic drama that attracts many viewers, but this show misrepresents the medical field greatly.
     The show is about doctors completing their residencies, but it's more of a sex crazed drama than anything. Grey's represents the medical field as much easier than it really is. A huge example in one of the episodes is when one of the characters cuts a wire on a patients heart monitor to make him sicker, so that she can spend more time with him. In real life she would get removed from the residency program and then most likely sued. In the show, she gets lightly punished and gets to continue working on the patient. This not only gives a misunderstanding of how serious this type of mistake is, but also lets people think that it's okay to make mistakes like that. Another huge thing is that physicians are never allowed to become romantically intimate with their patients. It's a part of the contract they sign when they receive a job.
     Another huge mistake that the show does is zooms in on the patients face during surgery. Just by reading a few articles on how doctors prep for surgery, the first item on the list is that they have to tape the patient's eyes closed. This is so that the patient doesn't get corneal abrasions. This practice is standard in the hospital world, so it's just another reason why the show is so misleading.
     Definitely don't stop watching this show, (it really is exhilerating) but remember that none of it is true and being a physician is really one of the hardest jobs out there.

Cited:
Kirzner, Amanda, DO, MPH. "'Grey's Anatomy' vs. Real-life Residency: You Already Know How This Turns out - The DO." The DO. N.p., 05 Sept. 2014. Web. 11 Oct. 2015.


Larissa Laeder