Grey's: Toxic Blood
In Thursday's episode, "Wishin' and Hopin" the interns and attendings of Seattle Grace are overcome by the toxic blood of cancer patient Marina. Just how did she get toxic blood? Supposedly the patient has been taking some kind of herbal remedy that has combined with the chemotherapy drugs to render her blood toxic.
So toxic, in fact, that the surgeons are rendered unconscious when she's on the operating table, and the mere procurement of a blood sample leaves George slurring his words and requiring immediate oxygen supplementation.
(For more on the show's other plotlines, visit Grey Matter, the writers' blog about the show.)
Unlike most of the Grey's plot lines, which have a theoretically-it-could-happen kind of novelty, this toxic blood idea seems more like something you'd see on House. Meaning that it's way out there. Unprecedented. As in VERY hard for this doctor to accept as remotely plausible.
Another thing that's very troubling is the scarcity of physicians available at Seattle Grace.
Cancer patient Marina is undergoing a bowel procedure, a general surgical operation to be performed by Richard. But when Richard and his team are overcome by the toxin, there obviously aren't any more general surgeons around. They have to call in neurosurgeon Derek and cardiothoracic specialist Burke to fix this girl's bowel. And when those two are out of commission, the team is now composed of plastic surgeon Mark, obstetrician Addison, and whoever among the interns they can happen to assemble.
Where, one might wonder, are the residents (those surgeons-in-training in the several years beyond the first-year internship)?
Still, there's a medical lesson to be learned from even this scenario, and that involves the combination of herbal or biological remedies with prescription medications. Herbal and alternative products are not subject to approval process of the FDA and cannot be legally marketed for the prevention or cure of disease.
However, the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 still allows these products to carry labels that suggest an effect on the structure or function of the human body or claim that they improve overall well-being.
Herbal remedies can have significant side effects. One example is the spontaneous bleeding that has been reported with Gingko biloba extract, which is advertised as improving cognitive (thinking) function.
Furthermore, the combination of herbal remedies and prescription medications can also interact in ways that are harmful to the body. gingko extract, to use the same example, is known to interact with anticoagulant and anti-platelet medications to influence the way these drugs can work in the body.
The bottom line - and the take - home medical message from this episode - is that herbal remedies should always be reported with your medication history since they can and do interact significantly with prescriptions that your doctor may prescribe.
Related Links: What Are Dietary Supplements?
So toxic, in fact, that the surgeons are rendered unconscious when she's on the operating table, and the mere procurement of a blood sample leaves George slurring his words and requiring immediate oxygen supplementation.
(For more on the show's other plotlines, visit Grey Matter, the writers' blog about the show.)
Unlike most of the Grey's plot lines, which have a theoretically-it-could-happen kind of novelty, this toxic blood idea seems more like something you'd see on House. Meaning that it's way out there. Unprecedented. As in VERY hard for this doctor to accept as remotely plausible.
Another thing that's very troubling is the scarcity of physicians available at Seattle Grace.
Cancer patient Marina is undergoing a bowel procedure, a general surgical operation to be performed by Richard. But when Richard and his team are overcome by the toxin, there obviously aren't any more general surgeons around. They have to call in neurosurgeon Derek and cardiothoracic specialist Burke to fix this girl's bowel. And when those two are out of commission, the team is now composed of plastic surgeon Mark, obstetrician Addison, and whoever among the interns they can happen to assemble.
Where, one might wonder, are the residents (those surgeons-in-training in the several years beyond the first-year internship)?
Still, there's a medical lesson to be learned from even this scenario, and that involves the combination of herbal or biological remedies with prescription medications. Herbal and alternative products are not subject to approval process of the FDA and cannot be legally marketed for the prevention or cure of disease.
However, the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 still allows these products to carry labels that suggest an effect on the structure or function of the human body or claim that they improve overall well-being.
Herbal remedies can have significant side effects. One example is the spontaneous bleeding that has been reported with Gingko biloba extract, which is advertised as improving cognitive (thinking) function.
Furthermore, the combination of herbal remedies and prescription medications can also interact in ways that are harmful to the body. gingko extract, to use the same example, is known to interact with anticoagulant and anti-platelet medications to influence the way these drugs can work in the body.
The bottom line - and the take - home medical message from this episode - is that herbal remedies should always be reported with your medication history since they can and do interact significantly with prescriptions that your doctor may prescribe.
Related Links: What Are Dietary Supplements?
10 Comments:
Hello Good Doctors!
I thought the toxic Blood was a mighty big stretch. First question I had: How come the Toxic Blood didn't seem to have an effect on the patient?
And thanks for this Blog, I check here after every Medical Drama for the real good!
personally, i didn't find the toxic blood storyline nearly as implausible as Meredith's mother miraculously cured of her Alzheimer's for a single day
Crispy, Grey's Anatomy: Did You Know addresses that here: http://abc.go.com/primetime/greysanatomy/page?pn=didyouknow
It says "Alzheimer's patients have good days and bad days. No one knows what makes a day good or bad. In this episode, Ellis is having an extraordinary day. It would be rare for an Alzheimer's patient in a stage as advanced as Ellis's disease is to be so cognitively available and aware of her history with the people around her for as long as Ellis is in the episode."
As for the lack of physicians...yes it is troubling, but it is also a drama. It wouldn't be a drama if all of the major characters weren't in trouble!
Good point, Jennifer, about it beinga drama. Of course the main characters have to be in the plot lines, even if they aren't from the correct surgical specialty.
I was just being a bit sarcastic and wanting to debunk the idea that an OB-GYN would be called in to do a heart transplant, etc. But I really do like the show!
It was also amazing that they all were toting around E tank oxygen cylinders...but...wearing a simple mask. Can't wear a mask while on oxygen unless the flow is greater than 5 lpm, and even at that the tank wouldn't last 30 minutes!
This is a huge issue with my home o2 pt's not realizing how unsafe this is.
You may all be right about Grey's Anatomy being a drama show and all that but I still LOVE it and will continue to watch it every Thursday @ 9:00pm on Ch. 7.
This is my first blog but had to say...Greys is awesome. So here is my 2 cents :)
Of course I think some of the situations are not totally plausible, like the whole denny thing..but wasn't it so romantic and well acted, to me a great storyline!
On the subject of more docs, as some have said then we wouldn't get to see mcdreamy...
As a RN....I see alot of things that are not right..the biggest mistake is how they scrub their hands for surgery, you would NEVER EVER do that without a mask...the mouth and its breath are a haven for germs. You also would never touch a mask once you have scrubbed (now you would have the nose haven of germs as well. hats,mask and shoe covers are CLEAN gloves and the towel to dry your hands ) have been Sterilized and packed in a sterile package....
BUT THE VERY best thing about this well written and acted show, is that their is occasional helth message that is so right.....when taking any herbal vitamins or any medication over the counter or prescribed, you must tell any health care provider,( dr. nurse, anestheologist, etc. what you are ingesting, you can not imagine how many times that there can be an interaction..
So, now that I have probably broken a blog rule ( going on and on :) ) I love the drama, comedy, actors of Greys.......I love GREYS ANATOMY for the T.V. show that it is.....
Grey Anatomy is a completely stupid show that makes bad attempts at shallow and ineffective humour. While "House" is an out there kind of show, everything on the show has been an actual medical case at some point in time. If you really want to see a medical show that is actually funny, try watching "Scrubs".
I personally love the show...actually both house and Grey's are on my "Favorites" list. I don't see the big deal about the show with the toxic blood. It is still no matter how you look at it....it is a TV show....nothing in it says it is real or that it is about a real hospital. So I don't even see it being an issue. It would be like watching General Hospital and taking it as real. JUST TV!! Nothing more to me. But I also love SCRUBS!! So just enjoy tem as what they are intended to be....Intertainment.
I am not a Dr. but I have worked in the medical field for 30 yrs. I love these shows because they are so over the top. It's TV and it's fun. And in every story is a thread of truth. My amazement is that every surgeon in this show can perform ANY kind of surgery. Personally I wouldn't want a gastrointestinal specialist operating on my brain or vica verca!
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