"Grey's Anatomy," now in its sixth season on ABC, is one of the most watched prime-time television series in the country and chronicles the lives of five surgical interns and their attending and resident physicians. "House," which airs on Fox and is also in its sixth season, follows the medical maverick Dr. Gregory House and his trainees, as they diagnose and treat only the most difficult cases.
Informed consent was the most frequently observed bioethical issue. Of 49 total incidents, 43 percent involved "exemplary" consent discussions, while the remaining instances were "inadequate." In general, exemplary depictions portrayed "compassionate, knowledgeable physicians participating in a balanced discussion with a patient about possible treatment options."
Conversely, inadequate depictions were "marked by hurried and one-sided discussions, refusal by physicians to answer questions" and "even an entire lack of informed consent for risky procedures," the authors state.
“Headaches are an effective theatrical device for portraying dramatic, unpredictable pain and disability,” said Dr Vargas. “Movies exert a powerful influence on the public’s perceptions and understanding of the medical profession and medical conditions.”
Dr Vargas began his presentation with a well-known clip from the movie Kindergarten Cop. In this film, the main character, played by now-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, is an undercover police officer assigned to teach a kindergarten class. While leading a class, he rubs his head, complaining of a headache. One student suggests it may be a tumor, and a number of other youngsters agree. “It’s not a tumor!” growls Gov Schwarzenegger’s character in response. While the clip set the tone for this light-hearted presentation, Dr Vargas pointed out that it also helps physicians understand why their patients may develop fears about their headaches.
These two readings are on the syllabus for Thursday, 9.16, but are no longer required. Instead, I'm posting snippets here.