NYMed

There's a new show on television which is more compelling than anything I've watched in a long time now. It's on ABC and its called "NY Med". It could be called reality TV, but it's the ultimate in reality, real life filmed as it happens in a big New York City hospital. It's about real patients, real medical issues, real drama.

The first week we watched one patient, a young woman with 2 children, who found out she had a brain tumor and was going to have surgery. An older man in his 60s went in for surgery for liver cancer and the doctors discovered they could not help him and closed him up immediately. The cancer was too widespread to operate on. Another gentleman had a mitral valve repair and still others came into the ER for various reasons. Each one was a dramatic story, each one had a real, human face. As someone who's been through the medical trauma of tests and surgeries and hospitals, I was mesmerized. I shed tears with the patients and I felt for the doctors as they agonized over telling family members and patients the worst news. I saw compassion and caring and excellent medical care by people I would be happy to take care of me.

I think this show is my new addiction.