As someone who has spent countless hours aboard cruise ships over the years, I can confidently say that “Doctor Odyssey” is a thrilling rollercoaster ride that takes medical dramas to the high seas! However, as much as I enjoy the show’s dramatic twists and turns, I must admit there’s a stark contrast between the gritty realism of Grey’s Anatomy and the fantastical emergencies on The Odyssey.
On Thursdays, ABC is airing two medical dramas concurrently, with “Doctor Odyssey” causing a shift in the 2024 TV schedule, moving “Grey’s Anatomy” an hour later to depict the unusual emergencies occurring at sea. However, there’s a significant contrast between “Grey’s Anatomy,” which strives for medical realism, and “Doctor Odyssey,” the new Ryan Murphy production starring Joshua Jackson, which doesn’t. One may wonder how frequently cruise ships actually encounter the extraordinary maladies seen in “The Odyssey’s” passengers. A real-life cruise ship medical expert has indeed addressed this topic.
On Doctor Odyssey’s inaugural season, I’ve found myself on edge watching Joshua Jackson portray Dr. Max Bankman, reminiscent of his days on Dawson’s Creek. So far, we’ve witnessed some harrowing incidents like copper poisoning from consuming raw organ meat, a collapsed lung due to an unfortunate acupuncture mishap, and an appendectomy performed amidst a hurricane. It’s enough to make even the most daring of adventurers yearn for the safety of a fully-equipped hospital on solid ground. However, Liz Baugh, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours’ lead medical consultant, eased my concerns when she told USA TODAY that such emergencies are seldom encountered in real life.
It’s not usually encountered, but I find intriguing the concept behind TV shows where they transport diverse parts of the world into people’s homes. I understand why these productions occasionally exaggerate for effect, as in medicine, we are extremely cautious and precise in our presentations.
It’s more effective to bend the truth for a compelling narrative in fictional works, such as Doctor Odyssey, rather than in series based on real events by Ryan Murphy, like American Crime Story: The Hernandez Murders and Monsters: The Menendez Brothers Story. Exaggerating the facts too much in these instances can erode the trust of some who support Murphy’s work.
As a devoted fan of “Doctor Odyssey,” I vividly recall an intriguing scene from its debut episode. A character named Avery Morgan (played by Phillipa Soo) shared with Dr. Bankman that a passenger develops iodine poisoning from consuming excess shrimp at the buffet on each trip, at least once. However, Liz Baugh has since debunked this notion, asserting that such incidents are rare and not as common as portrayed in the series.
In the course of my approximately 25-year career, I’ve never encountered an instance of iodine poisoning. Based on my own professional experience, it appears to be quite rare.
According to the consultant, it’s typically more frequent to encounter issues such as seasickness, urinary tract infections, or ailments affecting the ears, nose, and throat. To prevent many unfavorable scenarios, cruise lines advise passengers to stock up on necessary medications prior to their voyage.
Although some scenes in “Doctor Odyssey” may seem far-fetched and implausible, it’s entertaining to notice how the series seems to draw inspiration from the cruise ship emergencies depicted in Ryan Murphy’s other project, “9-1-1,” which airs on Thursday nights.
To keep up with the exciting adventures onboard Doctor Odyssey’s ship, you can catch up by streaming its episodes with a Hulu subscription. Don’t forget to watch every week as new episodes air every Thursday at 9 p.m. Eastern Time on ABC!
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2024-11-04 16:07