Ridiculous medical mistakes on TV

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We've all heard it: nurses can't watch medical shows without getting annoyed about how inaccurate they are. Lately, I'm finding that the most ridiculous medical mistakes happen on police procedural dramas (Law and Order, Criminal Minds, etc.); at least the medical shows have people with medical backgrounds advising them.

Anybody have some funny tv medical mistakes to share??

Last week I was watching a rerun of Criminal Minds. The victim had been drugged with haldol by her kidnapper. When the police rushed in to save her, the EMS gave her a bolus of narcan and she magically awoke. It was a flipping miracle!! ?

Specializes in Critical Care, PICU, OR.

So much horrible mistakes, so I decide NOT to watch any of this "medical" movies.

Just a few most characteristic:

1. Always scream, newer talk (esp. in code situation).

2. Extubation WITHOUT weaning, ABG,s, just - suction, extubate and ... place pt. on O2 by NC (presumably 2 L/min).

3. Pt. on permanent HD - no AV fistula on any extremity (that was not medical movie).

4. And my most favorite (!) which I'll probably never forget:

- Blood pressure dropping! (scream, of curse).

- Start nitroprusside drip!! (scream).

Ugh.

Nipride for hypotension!!!! I saw in my imagination producer of this "movie" with BP 40/0 and with Nipride at 4 mcg/kg/min. No more movie.

Sometimes they'll even show them on a pump that's turned off. Or flashing "Channel paused."

So I guess the scene can only be two minutes long or it will be interrupted by the annoying beep beep beep I hear all night long. Lol

I don't want to post any big spoilers because it's a new movie, but in "Creed" Rocky Balboa is having some issues and goes to the ED. He has some tests done and they don't keep him there until they have results, so he is called back in to get his results several days later. Of course because it's movie land he is seen by the exact same doctor who took care of him in the ED. How's that for continuity of care! When he goes in for the followup you can see the STD brochures on the wall behind him in what appears to be a planned parenthood waiting room. There are other little things about that whole scene/scenario that really grinded my gears but other than that it was a great movie!

Specializes in Telemetry.
I don't want to post any big spoilers because it's a new movie, but in "Creed" Rocky Balboa is having some issues and goes to the ED. He has some tests done and they don't keep him there until they have results, so he is called back in to get his results several days later. Of course because it's movie land he is seen by the exact same doctor who took care of him in the ED. How's that for continuity of care! When he goes in for the followup you can see the STD brochures on the wall behind him in what appears to be a planned parenthood waiting room. There are other little things about that whole scene/scenario that really grinded my gears but other than that it was a great movie!

Hmmm...Planned Parenthood. So I guess the test results were positive for pregnancy? There's a twist you wouldn't see coming. :p ;)

Specializes in Surgery Vascular/Endovascular/Trauma.
This was on "Young Frankenstein"...when Peter Boyle plays the monster and 'gets away'. As Gene Wilder is playing the violin and the monster (Peter Boyle) approaches, Teri Garr (Inga) and Marty Feldman (Igor) drop a net on the monster. Inga gives the monster a shot to calm him and it is given in his upper back and he is immediately calm.

i always say, either to myself or to everyone in the room..."you don't give a shot in the back...number one and secondly, if

medication were being given IM, it WOULD NOT act that fast.

Aint Hollywood grand!! 'Shame real life doesn't work the same way!!

I give this one a Pass on any medical accuracy.

First of all its a Comedy.

Second it's Mel Brooks.

Third it's Abby Normal.

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I already made one comment, but I forgot - I love when they'll show a doctor administering meds. Hahahahahaha... Laughable.

This thread is probably ancient but WTH. I quoted this post to say that I have actually had MY doctor give me an IM injection for pain as well as putting an IV in. trust me in this one instance..He did way better, quicker and less painless than any of his nurses (NO offense to ANY nurse here)

This thread is probably ancient but WTH. I quoted this post to say that I have actually had MY doctor give me an IM injection for pain as well as putting an IV in. trust me in this one instance..He did way better, quicker and less painless than any of his nurses (NO offense to ANY nurse here)

I've had a doctor a few times push meds IV or do an IM for me when they ask for crazy things I'm not sure about lol I like that he respects our boundaries and scope of practice so I guess it can happen sometimes ;)

The first patient I had that died I tried this like I had seen on TV and was surprised when it didn't work.

I'm hospice; maybe we get there quickly but for the most part, I can close the eyes and they stay closed. :dead:

Of course because it's movie land he is seen by the exact same doctor who took care of him in the ED. How's that for continuity of care!

In our small town, the ER docs are the local Family Practice Docs, who are also the OB docs, who also do minor surgeries, who also do some dermatology, etc.

:up:

Specializes in hospice.
Maybe if nurses were Jedi?

"Your eyes will close now."

Aren't all nurses Jedi???

"Nurse, get me 25mg of Atropine, STAT!" For the patient with tachycardia. Good luck with that one doc!

Specializes in critical care.
Aren't all nurses Jedi???

Man, I wish.

One I could have used this week:

"You will keep the bipap on your face."

Specializes in critical care.
This thread is probably ancient but WTH. I quoted this post to say that I have actually had MY doctor give me an IM injection for pain as well as putting an IV in. trust me in this one instance..He did way better, quicker and less painless than any of his nurses (NO offense to ANY nurse here)

We had a patient ask for a doctor to put an IV in recently. So he walks into the room, "do you really want the person who hasn't don't this since residency? Or would you rather it be the one who does this every day?" They chose the nurse.

P.S. I think this is one of those ancient threads that get a free pass on bumping if it stays on topic. It's a good one!

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