COMM 380:  Media Criticism

Even to those who do not consider themselves much of a Netlflix or television person, it is highly likely that the name Grey's Anatomy will ring a bell. Serving as the longest-running primetime show on ABC, Grey's Anatomy is a medical-based fictional drama that follows the lives of surgical interns, residents, and attendings as they grow into experienced doctors while juggling their professional and personal responsibilities. With bizarre medical cases, memorable romances, and hospital drama, this seventeen-season series created by Shonda Rhimes centers around Meredith Grey, daughter of a famous general surgeon, and her surgical colleagues as they face the intense pressure and expectations of the medical practice. While media entertainment is frequently distorting reality to create amusement for the viewers, Grey's Anatomy creates an unrealistic depiction of the medical profession with a heavy reliance on dramatizing the demands of their profession, unlawful practices, and patient interactions. 

 

Grey's Anatomy's fictional doctors consistently emphasize the unattainable work-life balance, which ultimately serves as the root cause for many of their personal problems. In a study conducted by Brian Quick to build an understanding of how cultivation theory is applied to medical shows, he found that the more engaged the viewer is with the show, the more they believe that doctors in real life are like the one depicted in the show (Quick, 2009). The show portrays doctors having to sacrifice their personal life such as having a relationship or children in order to be a good doctor; when in reality, roughly 85% of successful doctors in their 30's are married, and either has children or plan to have children (Davidson, Goldacre, & Lambert, 2012).

 

 Although many people are aware of the intense hours for the medical profession, the show creates an exaggerated reality-denying that doctors are able to maintain a normal life outside of their work. This is distinctly conceptualized in an episode revolving around the attending surgeon Miranda Bailey. Due to Dr. Bailey's hectic work schedule, her husband was left to give up his career to be a stay-at-home dad. While at work, she is visited by her injured 1-year old son and husband in the ER following a fall he had while climbing their bookshelf; because Dr. Bailey was rushing to work and forgot to close the baby gate. This quickly led to an outburst from her husband, screaming that if she had a more manageable and less stressful schedule, she would have fulfilled her motherly duty (Terlesky & Heinberg, 2008). Cultivation theory suggests that when viewers are unfamiliar with the background of the content being displayed, they are more likely to perceive the "program to be credible" (Quick, 2009). Through the application of this theory, viewers are likely to create a negative perception and believe that doctors are incapable of being parents or maintain ordinary responsibilities because of their work. 

 

There is an ethical responsibility placed on creators and writers to provide accurate information on the content being displayed. As a part of the show's dramatic element, many of the doctors in Grey's Anatomy have been convicted of serious crimes, but wind up receiving little-to-no penalization. In season 12, Episode 24, Alex Karev, a surgical attendant at the time, beats up his surgical resident Andrew DeLuca following a miscommunication regarding his girlfriend. This situation results in DeLuca being admitted to the emergency room with life-threatening injuries. Following a week-long trial, Karev’s charges are dropped and he resumes his life as normal. In a real-world scenario, this situation would undoubtedly result in the termination of Karev’s medical license and jail time. However, Grey’s Anatomy’s portrayal of this storyline is simply unrealistic and quite skewed in comparison to real-life consequences. There is a notable gap between the consequences on the show and the reality of the situation. Through the advancement of the cultivation theory, the show's lack of reality may create a false illusion to viewers who may undermine the severity of such actions in the real world. This ultimately builds a faulty portrayal of the reputation and credibility of the medical profession. 

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Comparatively, the application of cultivation theory can also be reversed to shine a light on real-life issues while remaining truthful to medical roots. In this episode, Shonda Rhimes uses popular characters to address and portray the reality of unfair barriers in accessing healthcare for undocumented immigrants. Furthermore, although Meredith is on trial for committing insurance fraud, her decision reveals her natural compassion and empathy for patients as a doctor. In this case, through the cultivation theory, this episode creates a narrative that allows audience members to grasp a sense of reality healthcare injustices in the United States.

 

Amidst all the fascinating drama and medical cases, the day-to-day responsibilities of these fictional doctors routinely consist of daily rounds and personal interaction with their patients in most episodes. Grey's Anatomy has a strong focal point on the close relationships many of the fictional doctors have with their patients and, in some cases, the romantic relationships between the two as they spend much of their time together. In season 2, episode 25, "Damage Case," surgical intern Izzie Stevens is proposed to by her patient with which she has been working closely. This perceived reality of doctor-patient relationships is seemingly far-fetched, to say the least. The nature of these relationships involves a limited amount of face-to-face interaction as doctors spend most of their time in their offices and focusing on labs. Instead, it is nurses who are in charge of carrying and building a safe relationship with the patient but are rarely represented in the show, especially in the patient's lives (Martis, N.D.). This cultivation of a false reality can potentially devalue the professionalism of doctors perceived by the viewers (Quick, 2009). Moreover, this may create unrealistic expectations of the routine duties and responsibilities of doctors for viewers who are in the medical profession. 

 

Media entertainment is created to bring amusement to the audience and many times, exaggerating the reality with romance and drama is what keeps the viewers engaged and interested. Surely, with over seventeen seasons, Grey's Anatomy has been a successful show and has been prospering in keeping their audience on their toes. With over five million viewers worldwide, it is clear that the drama has a heavy influence on its audience members (Thorne, 2020). The issue does not lie within the show itself, rather it is about the shaping of social reality through the cultivation theory and the deeper effect the show has on the perception of doctors and the medical profession through its dramatic narratives. 

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References 

 

9 Ways Your Job Is Nothing Like ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ | Monster.com. (n.d.). Retrieved April 13, 2021, from https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/healthcare-ways-your-job-is-nothing-like-greys-anatomy-0916

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Goldacre, M. J., Davidson, J. M., & Lambert, T. W. (2012). Doctors’ age at domestic partnership and parenthood: Cohort studies. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 105(9), 390–399. https://doi.org/10.1258/jrsm.2012.120016

 

Grey’s Anatomy: Meredith’s insurance fraud might “save” the show. (n.d.). Retrieved April 13, 2021, from https://culturess.com/2019/10/08/greys-anatomy-merediths-insurance-fraud-might-save-the-show/

 

Ph.D, B. L. Q. (2009). The Effects of Viewing Grey’s Anatomy on Perceptions of Doctors and Patient Satisfaction. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 53(1), 38–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/08838150802643563

 

Thorne, W., & Thorne, W. (2020, December 4). TV Ratings: ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Wins Thursday Night With Another Surprise Return. Variety. https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/greys-anatomy-t-r-knight-georg-omalley-return-tv-ratings-1234846491/