Top 10 Mistakes That Were Left in Greys Anatomy
#10: No Tape on the Eyes
Multiple Episodes
Did you know that corneal abrasions are a major risk when a patient is under general anesthesia? And so, during surgery the patient's eyes are almost always taped shut to protect against such injuries. Well, if everything you know about medicine comes from watching “Grey’s Anatomy” then you wouldn’t know that. Because patients’ eyes aren’t taped shut during surgeries at Seattle Grace. We guess they are just really lucky that they haven’t yet had a patient suffer a corneal injury due to their decision not to follow this common medical practice.
#9: The Pigeon & the Wire
“Let It Be”
When we say “bird on a wire” what comes to mind? For some people it might be the 1990 action comedy starring Mel Gibson and Goldie Hawn. And for others it could be the classic Leonard Cohen song. Well, allow us to add the eighth episode of the second season of “Grey’s Anatomy” to that list. For it is in said episode that a pigeon saves George’s life by causing him to move out of the way just before a man tragically falls from the sky onto the spot where he previously stood. We could get into a whole discussion of fate and chance, but today we’re just here to point out the wire attached to the pigeon’s leg.
#8: Dry Jeans
“It’s the End of the World”
In season two, Dr. Bailey is pregnant, and in the 16th episode of the season, her water breaks while she is standing outside with her interns. Now, we could use this time to talk about how only about 10% of women experience their water breaking before they’ve gone into labor. And usually, it’s a trickle of water and not the mega-gush that we hear when Bailey’s breaks. But we won’t, because technically what happened to Dr. Bailey is indeed possible. However, we draw the line of “possible” at her jeans being bone dry as she gets into the wheelchair following the surprise watershed of amniotic fluid.
#7: What Time Is It?
“Losing My Religion”
The smallest details stick out in the biggest moments. This scene begins with a shot of Dr. Webber’s watch and then pans up to his face as he sits in an observation room looking down on an empty O.R. The camera moves pretty fast, but if we pay close attention - or just hit pause for a second - we can see that his watch shows the time as 6:30pm. What’s wrong with that, you ask? Well, nothing until a few moments later, when Dr. Bailey comes in to deliver some devastating news. Maybe Dr. Webber is one of those people who sets their watch back over an hour so that he gets places early?
#6: Burke’s Missing Blood
“Deterioration of the Fight or Flight Response”
Doctors can sometimes perform miracles but making a pool of blood disappear and reappear would, we assume, be beyond their abilities. As longtime “Grey’s Anatomy” fans might remember, Doctor Burke gets shot near the end of the second season. And when Dr. Bailey finds him on the ground, there is a pool of blood by his head that continues to get bigger. However, at one point we see the scene from a low side angle and that pool of blood is barely there. But cut to the next overhead shot and it’s back. Yeah…we’d say that’s a pretty noticeable continuity error.
#5: Fire, No Fire
“Ring of Fire”
Season 13 ends with a fire on one of the upper floors of the hospital, trapping surgical resident Stephanie Edwards and a young girl, Erin. The two of them are able to make it to the stairwell but going down the stairs is impossible due to the flames. So, they head up towards the roof. When they reach the door to the roof, the fire has continued to climb behind them. Thankfully, they make it through and the fire department is able to put out the fire. However, as the fire fighters follow a blood trail up the stairwell to find them there is absolutely no fire damage. Maybe it was one of those fires that cleans up after itself?
#4: The LVAD Cutting
“17 Seconds”
The Izzie Stevens/Denny Duquette love story was one of the most memorable storylines of those early “Grey’s” seasons. And it was an emotional moment when Izzie cut Denny’s LVAD wire, essentially stopping his heart, in order for him to get priority for a heart transplant. But when Denny ended up dying from a stroke and Izzie confessed to what she had done, she was fired. No wait! That is what would have happened if this was a real hospital and not a fake TV hospital. Not only that, but was allowed to return when she decided she wanted back in. Sure, she was put on probation for a bit, but it still seems like she got off easy.
#3: Wearing Jewelry in Surgery
Multiple Episodes
We all know that doctors have to wash their hands really well and put on gloves before entering an OR to perform surgery. But what they are also asked to do, if not required to do, is remove their jewelry. And while they can probably keep their belly button ring in, and they can get away with not removing their cute ankle bracelet, earrings need to be removed. Imagine a situation where an earring falls off and into a patient. And yet, all too often, surgeons at Seattle Grace perform their surgical duties with hoops hanging off their ears.
#2: Where Are the Nurses?
Multiple Episodes
Over the many seasons of Grey’s Anatomy, we have seen countless changes take place at the hospital. But one thing that has remained constant during the lengthy run is the show’s disregard for nurses. The show’s doctors have done things that, in real life, would be in the nurses’ purview. This includes the constant patient interactions, as well as monitoring, advocacy, and education. It makes us wonder why the nurses’ strike back in season two was such a big deal given that the show makes it seem like the nurses aren’t that important to the hospital anyway.
#1: Psoriasis Isn’t Cirrhosis
“Throwing It All Away”
They might kinda sound the same, but psoriasis and cirrhosis are two very different things. Psoriasis is a skin disease that presents in the form of red, itchy skin - usually on the elbows, knees or scalp. Cirrhosis, on the other hand, is a fibrosis of the liver, and as it advances, it can become life-threatening. While we would be forgiven for not knowing all that, it’s definitely something a doctor should know. And yes, we know that Jessica Capshaw, who plays Arizona Robbins on “Grey’s,” isn't a real doctor. But we also know that the show has real doctors who consult on the show. They should have caught the mistake when Arizona diagnosed a kid with Psoriasis when she obviously meant cirrhosis. See for yourself!