Is there ethics on tv ?

During the summer, I am able to catch up on some TV shows that I was too busy to watch during the school year. From my opinion, television shows today can be classified into 3 main categories; reality shows, cop shows and medical shows. That seems to be the bulk of the shows airing today. Recently, my friend and I were sitting around watching Greys Anatomy. Although the show is highly entertaining (and somewhat addicting), the actions of the characters are very questionable, especially if they are trying to portray what really happens in a hospital. While I was watching it, the characters were intimately involved with each other and would discuss it while they were on the clock and some of their relations with the patients were far from ethical. Although this show is a medical drama and not a documentary, the public is still going to base some of their opinions of the medical field from what they see in these types of shows. As an example, one day on Oprah, Dr. Oz was dispelling the truth on if a certain injury that was shown on Greys Anatomy could actually happen in real life. This goes to show that people do believe some of what they see on these medical dramas because the content of it is so close to reality.

In an article that I found on The Healthcare Traveler, it discusses the ethcial actions of Jackie Peyton, the leading role in Nurse Jackie-a new show that began airing in mid-June on Showtime. On the show, a few of Jackie's behavioral traits that are upsetting the nursing community include her drug addiction, in-hospital sexual activities with a pharmacist who provides her with the drugs, and forging a patient's signature, just to name a few. These actions are so upsetting for some nursing associations that some are calling for action. Tina Gerardi, MS, RN, CAE, who is the cheif executive officer for the New York State Nurses Association is requesting a disclaimer to be shown before the airing of Nurse Jackie. She suggested that the disclaimer should note that "registered nurses practice according to a strict Code of Ethics that guides their interactions with patients and colleagues. Nurses are the professionals most trusted by the public because of their committment to the highest quality of patient care. The following program is not intended to denigrate the nursing profession in any way, but rather to explore the human element of a single, fictional character." Showtime's vice president of coporate public relations, Stuart Zakim, denied her request. Now, the American Nurses Association has prompted a "call for action," asking for all of its members to send complaint letters to Showtime. The AMA is concerned that the show will "erode the highly valued trust of patients who rely on the expertise of nurses in healthcare situations." As of yet, nothing has been changed or added to the show.

I agree that some of these medical dramas show healthcare professionals in a bad light. However, these portrayls are solely based on an entertainment factor. I doubt that any television network is purposely trying to portray all nurses with an addiction problem like Nurse Jackie, for example. The problem that I see is that there seems to be a grey area with medical entertainment and actual reality. Since these shows, like ER and Greys Anatomy, are using medical terminology and showing real operations, many people seem to blend the fiction with reality. Along with this is the behavior of the characters on the shows. If the viewers believe that the operations are real, will they also believe that nurses are less important, since that it they way they are often shown on these television shows? At what point should these dramas be allowed to show the health profession in a bad light before being forced to tame it down some or offer a disclaimer at the beginning of the show, as suggested by the New York State Nurses Association ?

http://healthcaretraveler.modernmedicine.com/healthcaretraveler/New+Healthcare+Travelers+Can+Use/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/606919