Well, I always knew there was such a thing as hug therapy. Now, according to this week’s episode of Grey’s Anatomy, I know it’s also a medical treatment. Or at least, that’s what Dr. Dixon says, and I believe it.
Somehow, the sight of Bailey and Cristina hugging it out with Dr. Dixon to bring her vitals back to normal was both funny and sort of heartbreaking. I can definitely appreciate the hugging; need some of it myself every day.
But I’m still perplexed that Dr. Dixon has achieved her current rank and status. I’ve dealt with doctors like her — with zero bedside manner — and they’re awful! I think tonight’s episode hit a little close to home because a doctor much like Dixon once told my husband he wouldn’t last six months. That was five years ago, and he’s now healthier than most of the human population.
So for Dr. Dixon to be so gruff with the girl’s parents was really unthinkable. And you’d think with her OCD detail for everything medical, she would have known that the girl could live a somewhat normal life with the backpack and meds that Bailey came up with.
This all really makes me think that people like Dr. Dixon shouldn’t be doctors. This isn’t a slam to whatever conditions she may have. It’s simply a statement that there’s more to medicine than administering drugs and performing perfect surgeries. You have to be able to talk to patients with some feeling and sympathy. Otherwise, you’re just an unfeeling robot, and patients deserve more than that.
What do you think? Am I off base here?
Clacked by Jane Boursaw 
on Feb 08, 2009 @ 11:00 EST5EDT
this is a bit of a myopic view on things. if i’m a patient, i want the BEST surgeon operating on me. laura roslin is probably really, really good at cutting, which is why she’s gotten to where she is.
bedside manner is great, but if we are the best of friends and you nick the spleen on every one of your patients, you’d best believe i don’t want you doing my surgery.
If she is to remain a doctor, she should have no contact with patients or their family. Most of them can barely understand what is happening, and to have to understand that their doctor ALSO has a medical condition must be near impossible.
And while it may be a myopic view, I wonder if even the slightest misspoken word in the operating room could set her off enough to interrupt surgery. What if someone said something or did something that knocked her off her particular path…would that mean they would all have to come over and hug her back to health so that they could continue? Sorry, even if she was the best clinical surgeon, she’s not the most stable. I wouldn’t want her operating on me or my family.
I think they’ve gone too far with this character, as I also think Boston Legal went to far with theirs. I think to prove a point they have taken the worst characteristics of a manageable condition and exploited them. Doesn’t seem like a real helpful plug for those that suffer from it.
she said something to the effect of getting to the backpack option, but that she needed to list the options in the correct order and Bailey jumped out of order, which is a main reason why she freaked out.
“Somehow, the site of Bailey and Cristina hugging it out with…”
and
“It really makes me think that people like Dr. Dixon shouldn’t be doctors.”
The top line really makes me think that people who don’t knwo the different between site and sight shouldn’t be writers.
And that people who can’t type shouldn’t leave comments.
Know. Difference.
The thing that is bothering me about Dr. Dixon is not her bedside manner but the fact that this portrayal of Asperger’s Syndrome has become more and more over the top, and I think it’s grossly exaggerated. Being totally honest, I’ve never known anyone with Asperger’s, and I’ve only read one first hand account of the disorder. I’m disappointed because I was so excited about this character at first and now it just seems ridiculous.
Having the same personal experience as you with the disease (You know, admittedly none), I actually find the portrayal to be believable.
Then again, I believe anything I see on TV, hence me still trying to figure out how Roslin in still surviving the cancer now that she’s on Earth.
I would really like to hear from someone who has a firsthand knowledge of it and know what they their opinion on the matter is…
Stupid left in words that were supposed to be deleted. *shaking fist at “they”*
I’m with you… We can only guess ;)
Interestingly, the Slate (I think it was the Slate) as an article on how many think that Sheldon on BBT has the disease.
I definitely think Dr Dixon should still be allowed to practice. I agree with asad (comment# 1) that she’s clearly a fantastic surgeon to have gotten where she is, and when someone is operating on me, that’s really all I care about. Also, there are plenty of “normal” doctors that have crappy bedside manners, so should they also be excluded from dealing with patients…and these doctors probably aren’t even world class surgeons.
As for the backpack and Bailey…that was not why Dr Dixon freaked out. And she did know about the backpack. It was not the preferred, recommended treatment for this child and Dr Dixon wanted them to have all their options before getting their hopes up. She freaked out because the mother of the child hugged her….after receiving explicit instructions not to do this. Totally the mothers fault, not Dr Dixon’s fault.
And quite frankly, I don’t care if this is a 100% accurate portrayal of Asperger’s Syndrome. Cause this is TV. It’s used to create awareness of this Sydrome in hopes that people that truly are interested in this will actually go out and do their own research. I do not feel it is fictional Tv’s job to educate us…only to entertain us.