Okay, own up. How many of you watched the new Doctor Who episode yesterday? Come on, I know you medical types will watch anything on TV that has the word 'Doctor' in it, right? It's not just me, right? Right? Hello?
Anyhoo, what made this episode particularly interesting was that the Doctor's new companion is a final-year medical student, and the new episode is set in a hospital. (Granted, the hospital is ripped off the face of the Earth and sent to the moon, but this IS Doctor Who after all. --Editor)
For once, The Doctor becomes The PatientFunnily enough, the level of realism here was quite high in the med student scenes. You've got the nasty consultant, the smug bastard who laughs at you when you can't find heart sounds using your stethoscope, and the crazy patients. And if you've EVER watched Doctor Who before, you'll know the show isn't exactly known for its level of realism.
Director's motivational speech to these actors: "Imagine you're junior doctors. Now, imagine MMC."One exchange particularly made me laugh, just before Nasty But Doting Consultant is killed off by the Villain of The Week, who happened to be a patient previously diagnosed with salt deficiency:
Villain: You see, I was only salt-deficient because I'm so very good at absorbing it. But now I need fire in my veins. And who better than a consultant? With blood full of salty fats and vintage wines and all those Michelin star sauces.Tells you something about doctors when a sci-fi show gets its medical stereotypes right, doesn't it?
28 comments:
Meee....I watched it, this evening on BBC3 though cos I was out last night. Good start I thought, and Martha's going to fit in well!
I've never watched it, but I've heard many people say it is a really good program. So I guess I'm going to have to check it out!!!
Funky Mango: See? So it's not just me who thinks Martha's a good addition, right? All these people going on about Rose...I mean, she was a good character, but variety's the spice of life and all that, right? Plus Radio Times was right, she's a very different character from Rose. Very up front. I like.
Bohemian: Well. Uh. Heh. You should also realise that it's the longest running sci-fi series in the world, and so it stays true to its...camp roots. Just so you don't toss your TV out when you finally do watch it :) do you get it over in Texas?
Not to worry, I'm like you too. I'll watch any TV with the word "doctor" in it - well, once anyway. I tune in religiously for House, ER, and Grey's Anatomy, but I've only watched Doctor Who and most of the medical dramas a few times.
P.S. Thanks for the blogroll!
I don't watch it, but perhaps I should start. Then when people talk about it (which they frequently do) I'll be able to join in.
Another watcher here in Seattle (via BT Airlines). Watched the prior 2 series (seasons to us yanks) twice during nursing school - much more fun than studying.
I thought that Rose did wonderful for her 2 years and that they ended it perfectly. Now it is time for a change, and Martha is off to a smashing start (did I use "smashing" properly? :) I like that she remembers the previous alien encounters, that makes for a nice contrast to the bride from the christmas episode (gave me a good chuckle).
Martha didn't read the latest studies showing that chest compressions are more important that breaths though.
I watched Dr. Who when I was in high school many years ago. It was aired on our local PBS station, and it was the best show on TV. I wish I could watch the new Dr. Who, but we don't have cable. May I travel to England and watch it with you? I'll bring popcorn:-)
MJ
Doctor Who is about medicine. I'm actually quite surprised by this. Maybe I should give that a try this summer with Netflix.
Yeah I watched it, although I don't usually. I thought it was really good. I'll probably carry on watching the rest of the series now (even less time to do work in)
I was dissapointed by her efforts at CPR although maybe its a different algorithm if you're 'The Doctor', he does after all have two hearts.
we don't get it over where i am sadly! =( but sounds hilarious. that, by the way, is an incredibly accurate description of a stick up his arse consultant i had. ahahahaha!
yo medic, sent you a mail, dunno if you received it. sent it to angry.medic(at)gmail.com
I love the label more than anything else. "Freakshow that is my life." How apt a description :)
wow.
I wish this stuff got over here to the U.S. Of course...I don't pay much attention to the cable my roomie has.
...Speaking of bad shows, has 300 come over the Atlantic yet? hilarious. Start to finish deplorable, definitely worth a watch if you like yelling at screens.
/jo
by the way, you are NOT twenty-two years old!
*gasp*
:D i TRY to catch anything medical all the time, it's not just u. Though now since i've started working, i just get home to sleep. btw, how've u been? haven't been online for awhile, n then when i do, i'm way too busy!
I have a theory that art and artists are increasingly blurring their collective influence from the purely imaginary into the totally real. It seems to me that Dr Who is actually a sinister Dept o'H plot to subliminally reducate the medical profession and it's behavioral expression such that more and more of you begin [ or even contine ] to act like complete pratts. Then that Hewitt besom will organise a cull on the grounds that you all behave like thespians and are consequently not real doctors.
You heard it here first.
Love the blog - been reading it for a couple of months now.
I notice from your comment on Dr J Crippen's post on PH retiral on April 1st, that you are using my name as a minor inective. Kindly desist or will have to send the Daleks round and have you extirpated.
Regards.
N
I watched it! Of course (screen goes all wibbley wobbley....) when I was a kid Tom Baker was the doctor. The tardis is one of my favourite TV stars!
You'll get to experience all the stereotypes first-hand yourself next year - IF YOU PASS THIS YEAR FIRST!!
Get to work, Angry! I can see through your procrastination techniques in a second!!
:D
Xavier Emmanuelle: Haha, see I knew I wasn't alone out there. Gives you something to look forward to, doesn't it? And I thought I blogrolled you long ago. Sorry for the delay!
HospitalPhoenix: You DON'T watch Doctor Who? What, none of it? Not even the old Tom Baker ones? Blasphemy!
Jeffus: Whoa, a viewer from across the pond! The Doctor's reach is far isn't it? And yep, Rose was quite thornless during her run (ahaha geddit, rose without thorns? Little uber-lame welcome joke for ya.)
Good point about the chest compressions, a lot of people spotted that. They just had to have an excuse for more gratuitous kissing, that's all. I'm adding you to the blogroll, BTW :)
Momma Jones: Aww, my humble abode is always open to you, Momma Jones. I'm also amongst the best tour guides in Cambridge (I've memorised all the tourist routes). The old seasons were classic weren't they? Though if they were the BEST things on TV, I wonder at the quality of all the other programming...
Dr Wannabe: Yeah, I know, amazing isn't it? This season promises to have quite some medicine in it though, thanks to the med student companion. You should give it a try.
Little Medic: Aha! The Doctor snares another convert :) yeah, this ep was okay, factoring in as always the necessary suspension of disbelief. Glad you enjoyed it. Now we can procrastinate together!
DitzyDoctor: Hahaha...see? The stereotypes are well-known enough for sci-fi! What're we turning into...
BTW, thanks for the encouragement! It's so nice to see another traditional course survivor. Gives me hope :)
Lesser Being: Aww, you noticed! Thanks...I thought it was apt too :) and thanks for the email and the blogroll. Am adding you too...sorry it's been a while, I'm a little slow these days. Blame it on the brain damage :P
JustCallMeJo: Hahaha...yep, we watched 300 last week. Took me a while to get that it wasn't serious (being my ignorant Philistine self, I'd never read the Miller graphic novel) and that they weren't just being racist history-distortionists. Now all we need to do is tell Iran that...I can see how they'd be offended.
And, uh, what's wrong with being 22? (If I was 22.)
Nemesis: Whoa. JUST as I started to type this, the line "are you alive or are you dead?" comes on (from DJ Shadow's Six Days remix ft Mos Def). You, girl, have supernatural powers :)
It's been a while hasn't it? You know me, still living the dashing young medic life. How're YOU, Ms Antisocial? Hope things are better than when we last met...
Nostrumdammit: Ooh, the great man himself drops by! I've been noting your comments on Dr Crippen's for months now. Thanks for the kind words, I'm honoured.
And wow. When that actually happens, my blog's comments section will be the proof of your epiphanic prediction. I am humbled :)
Oh, and I'm adding you to my blogroll. Hope you don't mind!
Dr K: Ah, Tom Baker is a legend. We have diehard fans here - one has a t-shirt with a smiling Tom Baker and the words "Who's Your Daddy" on it, and an actual Tom Baker scarf :)
Cal: Aw dangit. Am I that easy to read nowadays? I know - I keep myself going knowing that next year I'll finally be doing what I love. Am having a bit of trouble keeping my shoulder to the wheel though. Must...try...harder...
I can honestly say that I have never heard of this show before... and I watch EVERY doctor show DAMN IT! (by watching all of them I mean only Scrubs.)
Maybe it's time for me to start watching Dr. Who too. I mean, some of my favourite authors watch it --- Neil Gaiman, Caitlin R. Kiernan, to name but two.
And what's this thing where they change the actor playing Dr. Who every season? How cool is that? Unlike James Bond where we had to stare at the same mug for 4-5 movies before the dude really gets too old for the role... :P
I used to watch the Tom Baker episodes, yes.
Until the Daleks began to gave me bad dreams. I was so scared of them it wsn't funny. The way their metallic voices would get louder and higher until I really thought they were going to kill me.
*shudder*
And then once, a dalek was dying and there was some white gooey stuff oozing out. I asked my dad what it was and he told me it was Dalek blood. I felt sick and had to go to the bathroom and retch a bit. Dalek blood.
*retch*
Goodness only knows when I turned into the surgical stereotype I am now!
When I was on my community mental health placement here in Cardiff, I paid a visit to the Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team.
Funnily enough, they were based just around the corner from the headquarters of Torchwood: well, that funny metal water tower thing that we all know marks the secret Torchwood base in Cardiff.
Insert your own jokes here about a team of misfits and perverts dealing with weird encounters in the Cardiff area.
You're too kind.
Just as soon as I can bring some sentience to my aging cerebrum I will learn how to Blogroll - then I will return the compliment.
Incidentally, I must confess that the Great Dr J's post about the Besom's resignation had me fooled. That is until news time at the setting of the sun. The absence of any mention of her passing put a fair dent in my day I can tell you.
Hah, that's pretty funny. I'm sure we dont' get it here though so I can't even say I'll watch it.
pffttt.... :P I wasn't antisocial. you were just way too busy for me. Don't deny it! I've witnesses!! :D
of course, i'm supernatural!! my powers extend far and wide :P
see u when u get back
For what it's worth, I'm hurt by the ruthless character assassination the poor stereotyped knifeman underwent... of course, he was my namesake, so maybe I'm just letting the line blur a bit too much. AND Jon Pertwee was far in away the best Dr.
Slainte
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