A study looking at the correctness of seizure treatment on television medical dramas -- House, M.D. or Grey's Anatomy, for example -- found that basically, actors aren't doctors.
Go figure.
Researchers looked at 59 seizures happening over 327 medical drama episodes. According to a press release summing up the study, in almost 46% of the dramatized seizures actors portraying doctors or nurses performed "inappropriate practices, including holding the person down, trying to stop involuntary movements or putting something in the person's mouth."
The right treatment? Put the side rails up on the bed and drop in some padding so the patient doesn't smack his or her noggin. Wait 10 minutes before using medication to stop the seizure.
Well, that's boring. TV doesn't have 10 minutes to dedicate to a seizing patient, and what actor could really keep up the seizure that long anyway? TV dramas use seizures because they're dramatic. The whole point is too look like something really bad is happening, which means the "doctors" had better react with the proper mix of concern and quick, official-looking action.
At the beginning of a scene, does the director say, "Action!" or "Now stand there for ten minutes"? Yeah, I know the answer.
Get your first aid information from prime time TV? Think critically before you use any of the techniques you've seen Mr. Clooney or Mr. Laurie doing on the tube, because the only things they're treating are the ratings.
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This is a funny post. You make your points well. I love the ending: “… because the only things they’re treating are the ratings.” So true.