Grey’s Anatomy: What if God Was One of Us?

There’s an old joke: what’s the difference between God and a doctor? Answer: God doesn’t think he’s a doctor.  The oft-mentioned “God complex” was in full effect in this episode of Grey’s Anatomy, where Derek can’t seem to admit it’s time to put down the scalpel. Following up on last week’s episode where a pregnant woman needed brain surgery to treat an aneurysm, the writers continued with the cast of Private Practice, or at least Addison.  She and Derek clashed over the woman’s care, with Addison trying to be prudent about the patient’s unborn baby, and Derek struggling fruitlessly to keep a promise he made to her husband to save her life.  When it becomes clear that he will not be able to save the woman, Addison tries to go to work on the fetus, but Derek will not allow it, still believing he can somehow save his patient and even resorting to removing portions of her brain, rendering her a shell of her former self.  Eventually the Chief has to be summoned to persuade Derek to step aside and let Addison deliver the baby.  The most powerful scene of the episode was when Derek had to tell the woman’s husband that he was unable to save her.  The man essentially calls Derek a murderer, and weeps for his wife shamelessly and honestly.  It was a painful thing to watch, but I know that there is a correlation between my tears and the quality of the episode, so the writers get another thumbs up.

With Derek out of sorts and blaming himself for his patient’s death, he lashes out at Mark after Mark confesses that he’s been boffing Little Lexie.  I wanted Mark to kick Dererk’s ass. Shame on Derek for picking a fist fight with him.  We know that Derek is a brilliant surgeon who genuinely cares about his patients, but some of his emotional breakdown in this case can be attributed to ego.  For once, the great Doctor Shepherd couldn’t save the day.

A severe reprimand is in order, but we’ll see what the Chief does next week.  We’ll see if tough discipline is only doled out to interns who run amok or if the Chief is really serious about improving the hospital’s standing. Derek isn’t the only one feeling God-like.  Faye Dunaway makes a guest appearance as a legendary surgeon who still operates periodically, despite the fact that her surgical skills have eroded significantly.  The Chief has to force her resignation, as she’s essentially become a butcher, botching surgeries left and right.  Cristina is the only one with the stones to call her out about it.  Meanwhile, Izzie is dealing with a medical scare as a result of Sadie’s incompetence.  She apparently mislabeled some blood, and there is a possibility that Izzie has skin cancer.

Although this episode was hyped as a conclusion to last week’s thrilling installment, I didn’t see any connection to last week’s principal storyline: Addison’s ailing brother.  The old bait and switch by the show’s producers maybe? Perhaps I had to watch Private Practice to get the scoop. Nice try ABC, but I think I’ll stick with Seattle Grace.

Season 5, Episode 16: An Honest Mistake (originally aired February 19, 2009)

For another view of this episode, check out Mistake Maverick by Inisia Lewis.

For more Grey’s Anatomy reviews, click here.

Thursdays 9/8c on ABC
Photographs courtesy of ABC