Subscribe to RSS
Please copy the URL and add it into your RSS Feed Reader.
https://www.thieme-connect.de/rss/thieme/en/10.1055-s-00000180.xml
J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg 2020; 81(06): 495-500
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1709169
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1709169
Original Article
Neurosurgery in Contemporary Medical Dramas: How Grey's Anatomy & Co. May Affect Perception of Neurosurgery in the Media
Abstract
Background Neurosurgery is a common topic in contemporary medical dramas. This study aimed to examine depictions of several neurosurgical diseases and techniques as well as the perception of the personality of neurosurgeons in the media, focusing on their impact on the physician-patient relationship.
Methods TV series and movies with a main focus on neurosurgeons and/or neurosurgical diseases were identified by consulting the International Movie Database (IMDb).
Results After investigation of many TV series and movies, we identified five main topics: vascular neurosurgery, neuro-oncology, neurointensive care, neurosurgical techniques, and neurosurgeon's personality. The portrayal of neurosurgery in medical drama is characterized to a large extent by sensationalism, a lot of misinformation, and an unfavorable portrayal of neurosurgeons, although it is assumed that expert advice was sought in advance of every production.
Conclusions Considering the popularity of medical dramas and movies dealing with medical topics, we must consider the general public's picture of neurosurgery to be widely influenced by the media.
Publication History
Received: 21 May 2019
Accepted: 21 October 2019
Article published online:
10 September 2020
© 2020. Thieme. All rights reserved.
Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Stuttgart · New York
-
References
- 1 Berger E. From Dr. Kildare to Grey's Anatomy: TV physicians change real patient expectations. Ann Emerg Med 2010; 56 (03) A21-A23
- 2 Flores G. Mad scientists, compassionate healers, and greedy egotists: the portrayal of physicians in the movies. J Natl Med Assoc 2002; 94 (07) 635-658
- 3 Hallam J. Grey's Anatomy: scalpels, sex and stereotypes. Med Humanit 2009; 35 (01) 60-61
- 4 Harris D, Willoughby H. Resuscitation on television: realistic or ridiculous? A quantitative observational analysis of the portrayal of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in television medical drama. Resuscitation 2009; 80 (11) 1275-1279
- 5 Hether HJ, Murphy ST. Sex roles in health storylines on prime time television: a content analysis. Sex Roles 2010; 62: 810-821
- 6 Primack BA, Roberts T, Fine MJ, Dillman Carpentier FR, Rice KR, Barnato AE. ER vs. ED: a comparison of televised and real-life emergency medicine. J Emerg Med 2012; 43 (06) 1160-1166
- 7 Seale C. Health and media: an overview. Sociol Health Illn 2003; 25 (06) 513-531
- 8 Vickers JL, Uchida T, Wagner Jr RF. Television depictions about dermatology and skin diseases in Seinfeld. Dermatol Online J 2010; 16 (12) 1
- 9 Brodie M, Foehr U, Rideout V. et al. Communicating health information through the entertainment media. Health Aff (Millwood) 2001; 20 (01) 192-199
- 10 Elkamel F. The use of television series in health education. Health Educ Res 1995; 10 (02) 225-232
- 11 Quick BL. Coverage of the organ donation process on Grey's Anatomy: the story of Denny Duquette. Clin Transplant 2009; 23 (06) 788-793
- 12 Czarny MJ, Faden RR, Sugarman J. Bioethics and professionalism in popular television medical dramas. J Med Ethics 2010; 36 (04) 203-206
- 13 Crichton M. My Brother's Keeper. ER, season 4, episode 16. NBC; 1998
- 14 Rhimes S. A Hard Day's Night. Grey's Anatomy, season 1, episode 1. ABC; 2005
- 15 Rhimes S. No Man's Land. Grey's Anatomy, season 1, episode 4. ABC; 2005
- 16 Rhimes S. Run, Baby, Run. Grey's Anatomy, season 9, episode 9. ABC; 2012
- 17 Rhimes S. Ex-Life. Private Practice, season 2, episode 16. ABC; 2009
- 18 Rhimes S. Before and After. Grey's Anatomy, season 5, episode 15. ABC; 2009
- 19 Murayama Y, Takao H, Ishibashi T. et al. Risk analysis of unruptured intracranial aneurysms: prospective 10-year cohort study. Stroke 2016; 47 (02) 365-371
- 20 Wardlaw JM, White PM. The detection and management of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Brain 2000; 123 (Pt 2): 205-221
- 21 Foster D. DNR. House, season 1, episode 9. Fox; 2005
- 22 Rangel-Castilla L, Russin JJ, Zaidi HA. et al. Contemporary management of spinal AVFs and AVMs: lessons learned from 110 cases. Neurosurg Focus 2014; 37 (03) E14
- 23 Crichton M. Rescue Me. ER, season 7, episode 7. NBC; 2000
- 24 Dresen A. Halt auf freier Strecke [Film] Germany: Peter Rommel Productions, 2011
- 25 Rhimes S. Eyes Wide Open. Private Practice, season 3, episode 19. ABC; 2010
- 26 Turteltaub J. Phenomenon [Film] USA: Touchstone Pictures, 1996
- 27 Levine J. 50/50 [Film] USA: Summit Entertainment, 2011
- 28 Rhimes S. In the Name of Love. Private Practice, season 3, episode 22. ABC; 2010
- 29 Rhimes S. Superfreak. Grey's Anatomy, season 7, episode 3. ABC; 2010
- 30 Rhimes S. Almost Grown. Grey's Anatomy, season 7, episode 5. ABC; 2010
- 31 Rhimes S. God Bless the Child. Private Practice, season 4, episode 21. ABC; 2011
- 32 Crichton M. Benton Backwards. ER, season 7, episode 4. NBC; 2000
- 33 Crichton M. The Dance We Do. ER, season 7, episode 8. NBC; 2000
- 34 Crichton M. The Greatest of Gifts. ER, season 7, episode 9. NBC; 2000
- 35 Crichton M. Piece of Mind. ER, season 7, episode 10. NBC; 2001
- 36 Crichton M. Surrender. ER, season 7, episode 12. NBC; 2001
- 37 Crichton M. Thy Will Be Done. ER, season 7, episode 13. NBC; 2001
- 38 Crichton M. It's All in Your Head. ER, season 8, episode 15. NBC; 2002
- 39 Crichton M. Orion in the Sky. ER, season 8, episode 18. NBC; 2002
- 40 Crichton M. On the Beach. ER, season 8, episode 21. NBC; 2002
- 41 Jovčevska I, Kočevar N, Komel R. Glioma and glioblastoma—how much do we (not) know?. Mol Clin Oncol 2013; 1 (06) 935-941
- 42 Omuro A, DeAngelis LM. Glioblastoma and other malignant gliomas: a clinical review. JAMA 2013; 310 (17) 1842-1850
- 43 Barnholtz-Sloan JS, Sloan AE, Davis FG, Vigneau FD, Lai P, Sawaya RE. Incidence proportions of brain metastases in patients diagnosed (1973 to 2001) in the Metropolitan Detroit Cancer Surveillance System. J Clin Oncol 2004; 22 (14) 2865-2872
- 44 Crichton M. Heart of the Matter. ER, season 13, episode 6. NBC; 2006
- 45 Rhimes S. An Honest Mistake. Grey's Anatomy, season 5, episode 16. ABC; 2009
- 46 Lombardi G, Di Stefano AL, Farina P, Zagonel V, Tabouret E. Systemic treatments for brain metastases from breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, melanoma and renal cell carcinoma: an overview of the literature. Cancer Treat Rev 2014; 40 (08) 951-959
- 47 Kumar A, Dagar M, Herman J, Iacobuzio-Donahue C, Laheru D. CNS involvement in pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a report of eight cases from the Johns Hopkins Hospital and review of literature. J Gastrointest Cancer 2015; 46 (01) 5-8
- 48 Song KW, Shin SI, Lee JY, Kim GL, Hyun YS, Park DY. Surgical results of intradural extramedullary tumors. Clin Orthop Surg 2009; 1 (02) 74-80
- 49 Rhimes S. Drowning on Dry Land. Grey's Anatomy, season 3, episode 16. ABC; 2007
- 50 Dietrich W, Erbguth F. Increased intracranial pressure and brain edema [in German]. Anaesthesist 2013; 62 (09) 757-769 ; quiz 770–771
- 51 Stocchetti N, Maas AI. Traumatic intracranial hypertension. N Engl J Med 2014; 371 (10) 972
- 52 Rhimes S. Start Me Up. Grey's Anatomy, season 7, episode 12. ABC; 2011
- 53 Richtlinien zur Feststellung des Hirntodes. 1997
- 54 Dagtekin B. Autsch! Sturz von der Karriereleiter! Doctor's Diary, season 3, episode 6. RTL; 2011
- 55 Dagtekin B. Dr. Kaan ist doch süß! Doctor's Diary, season 1, episode 5. RTL; 2008
- 56 Dagtekin B. Frauen auf dem Ärzteball. Doctor's Diary, season 1, episode 6. RTL; 2008
- 57 Dagtekin B. Oh je! Dein Ex auf Wein, das lass sein! Doctor's Diary, season 3, episode 5. RTL; 2011
- 58 Rhimes S. That's Me Trying. Grey's Anatomy, season 7, episode 7. ABC; 2010
- 59 Träger UD. In: Pilz M ed; 2012
- 60 Rhimes S. I Will Follow You into the Dark. Grey's Anatomy, season 5, episode 17. ABC; 2009
- 61 Derrickson S. Doctor Strange. Walt Disney Studios; Motion Pictures; 2016
- 62 Donzelli V. La Guerre est déclarée [in French]. Wild Bunch Distribution; 2011
- 63 Carter T. Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story. Sony Pictures Television; 2009
- 64 Förster D. Frauenquote DGNC. In: Holling M, ed; 2015
- 65 Rhimes S. It's a Long Way Back. Grey's Anatomy, season 7, episode 19. ABC; 2011
- 66 Wong JM, Ziewacz JE, Ho AL. et al. Patterns in neurosurgical adverse events: open cerebrovascular neurosurgery. Neurosurg Focus 2012; 33 (05) E15
- 67 Keil M, Akbar M, Abel R. Paraplegia in cases of septic diseases of the spine [in German]. Orthopade 2005; 34 (02) 113-114 , 116–119
- 68 Sliwa JA, Lim AC, Roth EJ. A second traumatic spinal cord injury: associated risk factors. Case report and review. Paraplegia 1992; 30 (04) 288-291
- 69 Byard RW. Suicide attempts involving power drills. J Forensic Leg Med 2013; 20 (08) 1032-1034
- 70 Hinkelbein J, Spelten O, Marks J, Hellmich M, Böttiger BW, Wetsch WA. An assessment of resuscitation quality in the television drama Emergency Room: guideline non-compliance and low-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation lead to a favorable outcome?. Resuscitation 2014; 85 (08) 1106-1110
- 71 Heuer M, Hertel S, Remmer N. et al. Readiness for organ donation: analysis of a survey for health themes [in German]. Dtsch Med Wochenschr 2009; 134 (18) 923-926
- 72 Matesanz R. Organ donation, transplantation, and mass media. Transplant Proc 2003; 35 (03) 987-989
- 73 Daoust A, Racine E. Depictions of ‘brain death’ in the media: medical and ethical implications. J Med Ethics 2014; 40 (04) 253-259
- 74 Siminoff LA, Burant C, Youngner SJ. Death and organ procurement: public beliefs and attitudes. Kennedy Inst Ethics J 2004; 14 (03) 217-234
- 75 Kramm BD. In: Pilz M ed; 2012