Cardiac Arrest (TV series)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cardiac Arrest was a controversial British television series made by World Productions for the BBC.
Contents |
[edit] Creation
The series was created by Jed Mercurio (writing under the pseudonym John MacUre), a former junior doctor who had worked at a hospital in Wolverhampton, who drew on his own personal experiences to provide a more visceral, albeit wryly humorous, look at the NHS in the 1990s.
[edit] Characters and storylines
The main protagonist is Dr. Andrew Collin (Andrew Lancel), a fresh, idealistic junior doctor, straight from medical school, and a devoted Christian. We meet him on his very first day at work, and see him proudly admire himself in his white coat, before coming onto the ward, and meeting his new colleague, the frosty but competent Dr. Claire Maitland (Helen Baxendale).
Andrew is soon aware that he has almost no idea how to be a doctor. The series follows him in his first few months as a doctor, as he deals with one crisis after another, and learns, often the hard way, the skills of a doctor.
Other characters feature prominently in the series, including Dr. Rajesh Rajah, (Ahsen Bhatti), a pleasant but incompetent junior surgeon, who is struggling to avoid an arranged marriage whilst indulging in as many sexual relationships as possible. Dr. Monica Broome (Pooky Quesnel) is a surgical SHO and a new mother, who is desperately trying to hold down her demanding job and pass her fellowship exam, despite constant bullying and sexual harassment by her boss, the villainous Mr. Simon Bettencourt (Danny Webb). In a later episode, Monica fails her fellowship exam, and talks to her husband on the telephone:
- Monica: (in desperation) "I failed."
- Husband: "Look, I know how you feel."
- Monica: "No, you don't. You can't possibly begin to understand the tiniest part of what it feels like."
[edit] Themes
Although billed as a comedy, and darkly humorous in many respects, Cardiac Arrest explores several disturbing themes. It demolishes many cherished concepts of healthcare one after the other, and throws political correctness out of the window. It attracted complaints from many quarters during its airing, although (predictably) enjoyed huge support amongst junior doctors.
[edit] Racism
- Andrew: "Mrs. Singh doesn't speak any English."
- Claire: "Then screw her. I'm not a frigging vet." (smiles at Mrs. Singh and exits)
Cardiac Arrest is stark in its portrayal of racist attitudes, which are depicted as endemic throughout the health service. In one episode, an Indian doctor who is clearly incompetent is assumed to be so, not because of his deeds, but because he is Indian.
Raj is often shown arguing with his mother on the telephone about his arranged marriage.
[edit] Junior doctors
In an early scene, we see several junior doctors smoking in the doctors office, and Claire commenting that soon someone will say it gives you cancer. This is just one scene where doctors are depicted as acting very far from their cherished public persona.
Andrew is rapidly seen as being the most put-upon person in the hospital. Nurses will not flush venous lines: Andrew must do it. Porters will not transport blood specimens: Andrew must do it. Every menial job seems to default to him, and he rapidly runs out of patience. After three days of continuous duty, Andrew is speaking to a patient's family, breaking bad news. One male relative stands up to Andrew in a threatening manner and says "What sort of doctor are you? You couldn't even be bothered to shave before you came to work today!"
[edit] Consultants
Andrew's consultant, Dr. Turner, at first seems friendly and approachable. However, he never appears on the ward, leaving the running of the ward and the care of the patients to Claire. We see him chatting on the telephone about his golf fixtures. Later he attempts to persuade (an exhausted and desperate) Andrew to forego his holiday, bribing him with a good reference for his next job.
A surgical consultant, Mr. Ernest Docherty, is portrayed as pleasant and cheerful, but also bumbling and incompetent, frequently requiring to be rescued by Monica. He often loses his way in the middle of a sentence. Another surgical consultant, Mr. Bettencourt, is a bully. He bullies all his staff, especially Monica, whom he singles out for constant harassment.
[edit] Managers
Managers are portrayed with considerable venom. The hospital manager is portrayed as uncaring and dismissive. Andrew books his holiday many weeks in advance, only to be told that he cannot be granted the leave as there is no-one to cover for him:
- Manager: "Your contract states that in emergencies you are expected to come to work."
- Andrew: "I fail to see how a holiday I booked six weeks ago can be called an emergency!"
- Manager: "Hospital managers are accustomed to the disaffection of junior medical staff."
[edit] Nurses
Nurses attract perhaps the cruelest depiction of all. Instead of saintly angels cooling the fevered brow, nurses are frequently shown as gossiping, conniving women, chatting at the nurses' station while ill patients languish without attention, or Andrew fumbles around, hopelessly busy and in great need of assistance.
Many have suggestive nicknames, such as "Nurse White-Coat" (Joyce Falconer), so called because she would apparently sleep with "anyone in a white coat".
[edit] Medical Ethos
In common with other medical dramas, (such as The House of God or even M*A*S*H), Cardiac Arrest portrays junior hospital medicine as an unending parade of sexual adventure for the staff. No-one is portrayed in a stable relationship, except Monica, who is devoted to her husband and child. Later, even this relationship breaks down, and Monica eventually takes her own life. Mr. Bettencourt is having an affair with Claire, and this is widely known and regarded as the norm.
Junior medicine is portrayed as a school of hard knocks, where junior doctors achieve success and skill over the corpses of their mistakes. They achieve promotions and status by underhand means. No-one is supportive to anyone else's problems.
[edit] Followup
Three series were produced between 1994 and 1996. Prominent cast members included Andrew Lancel and Helen Baxendale.
The complete series will be released as a 5-disk dvd set 16 April 2007.
Creator Jed Mercurio later went on to devise another controversial medical drama for the BBC in 2004: Bodies.
"Cardiac Arrest" is also the title of a song by the British ska group Madness.
