Summary
Chicago Med is a medical drama that combines fact and fiction, striving to include realistic medical terms, practices, and cases.
The strategy utilized in one episode to persuade a stubborn patient to undergo surgery received commendation from a medical professional, despite the improbable aspect of filming within a hospital setting. Despite being regarded as one of the more realistic medical dramas, Chicago Med still incorporates sensational and improbable scenarios for the sake of entertainment.
A medical expert reviews the accuracy of a ridiculous case in the TV show Chicago Med and praises the approach taken by a psychiatrist to save an uncooperative patient. Chicago Med is part of the One Chicago franchise and centers around the emergency department team at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center, a fictional hospital. While the show aims to include realistic medical terms, practices, and cases, it also incorporates creative elements for dramatic effect. Despite this, one particular episode received partial approval from an expert. Dr. Mike, also known as Doctor Mikhail "Mike" Varshavski D.O., shared his thoughts on the accuracy of Season 5, Episode 8, titled "Too Close to the Sun," on his YouTube channel.
How Medically Accurate Is Chicago Med?
Dr. Mike examines a case involving a young man diagnosed with appendicitis who adamantly refuses surgery due to the influence of his social media followers. Commencing at 7:00, the segment highlights Dr. Mike's insights regarding the accuracy of the case. While acknowledging the illegality of filming within a hospital and its subsequent prohibition, he commends the psychiatrist's strategic approach to demonstrate the patient's lack of mental capacity in rejecting the surgical intervention.Determining the accuracy of Chicago Med can be challenging due to varying perspectives. However, according to the show's creators, it stands as one of the most authentic medical dramas available. Dr. Andrew Dennis, the Executive Medical Advisor for the series, brings his real-life medical expertise to ensure its credibility. He states that Chicago Med achieves an accuracy rate of 85%.
Chicago Med draws inspiration from published medical cases, although it significantly dramatizes them. The show prides itself on featuring an actual neurosurgeon, Dr. Oren Gottfried, who provides suggestions and ensures accurate portrayal of medical protocols. However, even the people involved in the production of Chicago Med acknowledge that in order to create captivating drama, the show often portrays cases with highly unlikely complications, making rare or extreme scenarios appear more common.
In contrast, Dr. Mike has criticized Chicago Med for its lack of realism. He was particularly appalled by an episode where a surgeon performed heart surgery on a panda. Dr. Mike called out the show for fabricating this storyline, stating that it is unrealistic for a human surgeon to possess the necessary skills to operate on a panda, especially in a hospital with human patients waiting for treatment. Consequently, while Chicago Med might be more accurate than some other medical dramas, it includes both minor and major fictional elements that occasionally diminish its accuracy.
Source: Doctor Mike