Sensational Showdown: Chicago Med's Controversial Panda Heart Surgery Episode Leaves Real-Life Doctor Fuming
Unveiling the Unreal: Real Doctor Expresses Shock Over Chicago Med's Fictional Take on Panda Heart Surgery, highlighting the glaring inaccuracies in medical dramas and their departure from real-world practices
Summary
Medical shows like Chicago Med sometimes prioritize drama over realism, which can result in nonsensical and unrealistic plotlines.
The concept of doctors performing surgery on a panda in the show is absurd, as it contradicts standard medical procedures and carries a significant potential for errors.
Excessive deviation from realism in medical shows can undermine the fundamental aspects of the show and hinder viewers from connecting with the characters and narratives.
A Chicago Med episode featuring a panda heart surgery is critiqued by a real doctor. Chicago Med is a spin-off series set in the same universe as Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D. It follows medical professionals at the Gaffney Chicago Medical Center emergency department, where unusual cases occur daily. The show has been renewed for season 9, which will air once the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes are resolved. While Chicago Med primarily focuses on the daily lives of doctors and nurses in an emergency department, it occasionally delves into the absurd. In season 2, episode 11 titled "Graveyard Shift," doctors are shown performing heart surgery on an actual panda.
Dr. Mike, a real-life doctor, shared his reaction to this scene on YouTube. In his video, Dr. Mike not only discusses the accuracy of the medical procedures depicted in the show but also questions the plausibility of human surgeons operating on pandas. He finds the concept of doctors performing surgery on animals they have never studied to be laughable and expresses his disapproval of the storyline.
A panda! They are simply inventing things as they proceed now.
Alright, that's wonderful, but you know what's more intriguing? When an actual patient - a human patient - requires surgery and the doctor is occupied with a panda, good luck clarifying it to the patient's family. "You see, we understand your husband's intricate heart problem, but panda"... No! He hasn't performed this procedure numerous times! It's a different species! They didn't even provide him with something remotely similar. Is a panda even remotely comparable to a human? This is performed on humans. Carrying out the procedure on an animal and a species he has never worked on before? That's absurd. How can that be considered an explanation?
I encountered a challenge at my hospital involving supporting the public relations efforts of a doctor who has gained popularity on social media. Surprisingly, the hospital is willing to showcase their commitment to this doctor by allowing a panda to undergo surgery solely for publicity purposes. They are even insisting on finding a specialized surgeon for the panda, someone who is not just a veterinarian for typical household pets. This surgeon specializes in performing heart surgeries specifically on pandas. I find it perplexing how one would even determine what constitutes a fast heart rate for a panda. If you were to ask me right now, "What is considered a fast heart rate for a panda?" I would be making an educated guess if I were to provide an answer. Are they actually planning to stop the panda's heart during the procedure?
It's rather amusing to me, although I can't explain why... But I can't help but imagine what could happen once the panda wakes up from surgery. Pandas are known for their ruthlessness. I can't help but think that the writers of this episode must have been on strike when it was written.
Why Medical Shows Such As Chicago Med Deviate From Practicality
Medical shows strive to present realistic patient cases, although some take creative liberties that stray from accuracy. However, delving into every minute medical detail can be tiresome or distracting. Given the limited duration of each episode, writers must prioritize creating realistic scenes, while also fostering drama and resolving every case. Striking this delicate balance is crucial to ensuring that Chicago Med captivates its audience.
Regrettably, there are instances when Chicago Med veers too far into the realm of fantasy. For example, depicting a scenario where an inexperienced doctor performs heart surgery on a panda is both dramatic and illogical, especially considering that these doctors lack expertise in animal anatomy. As Doctor Mike pointed out, this would undoubtedly lead to a public relations nightmare and potential legal issues for Gaffney Chicago Medical Center if the zoo's beloved panda were to perish under their care. Given that the doctors had no prior experience operating on pandas, the risk of them making a critical error was alarmingly high.
If a medical show prioritizes drama over realistic medical practices, it loses its appeal. The essential elements that connect with the audience are disregarded, leading them to dismiss any future critical medical situations. While it may be entertaining to see surgeons effortlessly treating pandas without proper training, it is not a practical representation of real-life scenarios. Therefore, Chicago Med season 9 should concentrate on presenting authentic cases and leave behind the panda heart surgery of the past.
