"I love you, thank you, I'm sorry, please forgive me."
Have any of you been watching the medical drama series called The Pitt? It stars Noah Wyle who you might remember from the ER series that began 30 years ago. Back then he was the wide-eyed student doctor while in The Pitt he is the grizzled veteran, although they are different characters. Thes two series are set in hospital emergency rooms but the premise is different, with each episode of The Pitt representing an hour in the hectic day, and a number of the cases overlapping. The estate of ER creator Michael Crichton figures that there isn't enough of a difference and is suing.
While we immediately noticed the similarities (we were big fans back in the day) we were also aware of what seemed to be much greater detail to the actual medical procedures. It turns out that doctors would agree. Physicians who roll their eyes at other medical dramas are struck by the accuracy of The Pitt, to the degree that some can't watch because it's too close to home. There is a large team of medical experts making sure they get every scene right.
While this is impressive, so is the human aspect of the stories that unfold, and some of them are moving. Two middle-aged siblings, brother and sister, wrestle with what to do when their elderly father is brought to the ER in medical distress due to health issues related to his advanced age. Despite his "do not resuscitate" directive one of them doesn't want to let go.
Dr. Rabinovitch (Noah Wyle) does his best to provide solace and advice in the midst of the pressing needs around him. He asks if they would like a social worker or spiritual support and the sister/daughter offers an emphatic "no religion!" So he suggests a phrase from the Hawaiian spiritual practice of Ho'oponopono (new to me.) It is "I love you, thank you, I'm sorry, please forgive me." Of course, this resonates with Christian sensibilities and the gospel message of love and forgiveness. The way these siblings engage in speaking each of these with their personal reflections is powerful.
Leave-taking at the end of life is important if we have the opportunity to do so. When I did a series on grief at Trenton United a few months ago it was well attended and in moments conversation was emotional and holy. Whether it is before the end or after we need to approach dying with honesty and reverence.
The Pitt does so in another episode as well, this one with a young person, but I'll let you seek out the series rather than describe it!
2 comments:
Yes we intend to watch, following along from many seasons of watching New Amsterdam. Wrestling with life and death decisions, agognizing over a bad choice, struggling with forgiveness, self-sacrifice.....medical dramas deal with a lot of big questions and dilemmas wrestled with by complicated characters. No wonder they draw such loyal audiences. KB
There is an irony that none of us wants to be hospitalized and we avoid ERs like the proverbial plague but we love our medical dramas. I think you've covered why we're still drawn to them, Kathy.
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