Did anyone see Kangaroo Care on Grey's Anatomy? Shocking...

[heymama1plus1]

Not that I watch the show (as a NICU nurse it makes me want to throw things at the TV), but I heard someone talking about a recent episode so I went online to watch it; guess I didn't have my quota of annoyances today...

A 30 weeker ("too premature to survive!!") was on NCPAP (not intubated, no lines that I could see) and had a low HR, the doc (a one person code team) did compressions for 10 seconds, said "I've done all I can do, she's too premature", takes off the CPAP and silences the monitor (while chastising some younger gal who seems disturbed by this; a med student?).

He then has a shred of decency, decides to hold her while she dies, and the (?) attending notices that her VS are improved (HR 80s!!) and claims that it's because he's holding her upright in Kangaroo "Hold", which is better done with the shirt off.

She then demands that the doc take his shirt off, and a few minutes later you see the doc standing shirtless (pecs rippling) holding the baby (no hat, 1 light blanket halfway down the back) and the attending oohs and aahs at the HR of 90 with sats of 91 (heart block? haha).

Then his colleagues come and mock him ("have you started lactating yet?"). Then later in the episode he is seen is a rocking chair doing KC. Not sure where the parents are, I just fast forwarded to the "good" parts.

Boy, I hear stories about parents having to fight to do KC on their babes and here we health professionals could be doing it! I though our unit was quite progressive with getting sick babies out to KC, but I didn't know I should be tucking them down my own scrub top. I've been tempted with a few cuties

Do TV shows have actual practicing MDs/RNs consulting to try and make it halfway accurate? Just makes me so mad... I L-O-V-E kangaroo care and it really irked me that they were mocking it.

[katelove]

Those shows make DH and I (both RNs) hop up and down with rage as well. On the rare occasions I've watched them I have seen medical/nursing advisors listed in the credits. I can never work out whether their advice gets overruled for the sake of a good story or whether the reason they are consulting on a TV show and not actually, you know, *practicing* is a reflection on their skills/knowledge and they just don't know any better.

Are you familiar with http://www.nursingadvocacy.org/news/news.html ? They are constantly campaigning for better portrayal of nurses/nursing in the media.

[MsBlack]

Yeah, "house" is my favorite 'love to hate it' med show.....

I'm thinking maybe their med consultants told them about KC--proper KC, done by parents--and probably the show's honchos decided it would look better, make for 'better TV' if one of the docs did it. KWIM? Add to the sexiness (rippling muscles), and give more humanity to the docs' personas....

[meganmarie]

Gave up on the show a loooong time ago, but in the first season or 2 they had Dr. Bailey go into labor and loudly declare her intention to birth naturally (drug free). This was of course scoffed at by the high risk OB who threatened her with a c/s at the first oppty. However Dr Bailey stubbornly persisted, went on to spend most of her labor upright, swaying and breathing, and then pushed the baby out in a semi-upright position leaning back against a colleague behind her on the bed supporting her (just like a pic in my Bradley book). Of course that doesn't excuse the 90% total scare-mongering garbage about birth on TV including this show, but I'm grateful for any scraps I can get.

[heymama1plus1]

Impressive for that show! Impressive for any show, actually....

[nikirj]

I thought it was a good storyline. The mom had been in a car crash that included abdominal trauma, which was the reason for the c/s. Mom was still recovering and in and out of consciousness while the Dr was doing kangaroo care. She returns at the end of the episode. I would have liked to see mom more, but whatever. I've only watched a couple of episodes and managed to catch this one, but it seems like this particular doctor was written doing this because he'd been on an "angry"/ distressed streak and they needed to bring his character back around. I guess I just never really expect TV shows to leave out their long-term character agenda when they write a storyline, so I wasn't disappointed.

[AlexisT]

If I let myself get worked up about inaccuracies on medical dramas... well, I don't know, but it wouldn't be pretty!! Lawyers/police don't tend to be too impressed with L&O, CSI etc, either. I think you just need to enjoy the plot twists and not think too much. The writers sacrifice accuracy for plot.

BTW, I remember Casualty on the BBC doing exactly the same sort of thing. Not to mention non-medical plot holes.

When it comes to advisers, I think the script writers ask questions, but the advisers don't review the scripts for accuracy.

[nutritionistmom]

Frankly I get more upset by the show The Doctors with their claims of epidurals and immunizations will save the world. At least I know to expect Grey's Anatomy to be a total misrepresentation of the facts.

[Bokonon]

I couldn't believe they were talking about it like it's an unusual thing to see in a NICU. It was offensive to me as a parent of preemies. And I don't think they were saying the baby was too young to survive - it had other health problems.

[Charmie981]

The baby was recovering from brain surgery for a brain bleed induced by the accident.

And yes, it was obnoxious. The protocol for resuscitation was really, really, REALLY off. UGH. Every time I see a show like this, where I know enough to know it's wrong (anyone see private practice this week...ARGH!), it just reminds me that I can't believe *anything* I ever see on television .

[memiles]

Originally Posted by Charmie981

The baby was recovering from brain surgery for a brain bleed induced by the accident.

And yes, it was obnoxious. The protocol for resuscitation was really, really, REALLY off. UGH. Every time I see a show like this, where I know enough to know it's wrong (anyone see private practice this week...ARGH!), it just reminds me that I can't believe *anything* I ever see on television .

I was studying for my NRP certification while watching it. You should have heard me yell.

[bluebunny]

But thinking that Grey's Anatomy, a drama, is going to show accurate medical procedures is like thinking that Law & Order is accurate legally. You just can't get caught up in that. The show is a drama for a reason. I don't know that anyone expects accuracy.

[katelove]

Unfortunately the public do think think that these shows are accurate a lot of the time. Not helped by the publicity they're given. ER used to be called "the most accurate medical drama" and maybe it was the *most* accurate but it's competition wasn't very stiff. But that makes many people think it is accurate. Then you have problems with unrealistic expectations of healthcare and unrealisitic portrayal of nurses. The way nurses are portrayed in the media, both fictional and non-fictional, creats significant problems for the profession.

[jljeppson]

I'm not a fan of the show, but I can take it better than "real" shows like The Doctors or Deliver Me. Nobody in my family wants to be around me after I've watched Deliver Me. I'm drawn to shows with babies and maternity care like a horse to water; there are several series where I've seen only one episode and that was because that one had someone delivering in it. So Deliver Me should be right up my alley, but I just can't take it. I disagree with almost every part of the care they provide and it makes me want to go green (sorry, Hulk reference and I don't even know why when I've never cared about the character one way or other).

[mommaof3boz]

The average lay person isn't watching for its medical accuracy. They are watching for doctors to take off their shirts and "make it better". I'm a cardiac cath lab nurse and the recent angioplasty seen was such a joke, but if someone saw what we actually do, not understanding most of it, they would be like"someone take off their shirt please" LOL

[limette]

In the Grey's Writer's blog they have mentioned that they have medical advisors for the show. In fact I'm pretty sure that they implied that they were anal about getting the facts right (obviously they don't).

It is tv and is supposed to be entertaining so it's not exactly shocking that they aren't always going to portray things realistically.

[jeninejessica]

I understand that they totally messed up the facts... but shouldn't we be pleased that they're getting the *idea* out there? There actually are people that don't know the benefits of kangaroo care or have ever heard of it. Now they know, and anyone who is truly interested, will have gone and looks up the facts.. I take that as a positive!

[Koalamom]

Originally Posted by nutritionistmom

Frankly I get more upset by the show The Doctors with their claims of epidurals and immunizations will save the world. At least I know to expect Grey's Anatomy to be a total misrepresentation of the facts.

I am ok that they had the cute doctor take his shirt off to save the baby.
I thought doing the kangaroo hold it was pretty good for a TV show. But I was getting the kids into bed, and I didn't see every detail of that episode. I don't get all worked up about things that are semi positive anyway, but yes, I agree the Doctors show and even Dr OZ drives me crazy since it is supposed to be real TV.