Grey’s Anatomy and The Iraq Vet with PTSD
While there is a Vietnam Vet in the True Blood books who has been changed into an Iraq Vet for the TV series to make him more age appropriate, there is also the story of an Iraq vet in the US TV series Grey’s Anatomy. I was a bit surprised when series 5 introduced Dr. Owen Hunt, trauma surgeon at the Seattle Grace hospital, and to discover the back story. It’s an interesting depiction of an Iraq vet with severe PTSD, at times a bit over the top, but still believable.
Owen is a type “Ice man”, reminiscent of Sgt Brad Colbert in Generation Kill. He can handle pain and when it comes to help others he can put himself aside completely, he even functions extremely well in the Emergency Room under stressful circumstances.
His illness becomes obvious when he falls asleep. Whenever he gets woken abruptly he goes berserk as it reminds him of things he survived “over there”. When he is at relative peace he also suffers from flash backs which trouble him a lot. Whenever he is under pressure he functions remarkably well.
There is a relationship dynamic to the whole thing (obviously, as we are talking Grey’s Anatomy here) that intensifies his symptoms.
I have the odd comment of vets on this blog, some of them have done a few tours in Iraq and I would love to hear what they have to say, should they have watched Grey’s Anatomy. One question I have, is whether it would be even possible for someone to be a trauma surgeon while suffering from severe PTSD?
True Blood and the Vietnam Vet
warmoviebuff said,
December 9, 2011 at 11:41 pm
I sure would not want to be rolled into the ER and have him taking a nap in there. Otherwise, I don’t have a problem with a person who has undergone trauma and can still function holding down a job that deals with trauma.
BYW I am not familiar with this show or character.
allaboutwarmovies said,
December 10, 2011 at 7:52 am
I would have been surprised if you would watch Grey’s Anatomy. i don’t have a problem, i just wonder whether it’s pssible. It could be.
Novroz said,
December 10, 2011 at 2:26 am
I haven’t watched Grey’s Anatomy again since season 2.Vet here means veteran,right? for a moment I thought of Kame’s Vet
allaboutwarmovies said,
December 10, 2011 at 7:53 am
Oh how funny…. It does mean veteran, yes.
warmoviebuff said,
December 10, 2011 at 4:34 pm
How about a show about a traumatized vet who becomes a vet? He could have brought back his equally traumatized bomb-sniffing dog. Drama or comedy ensues.
allaboutwarmovies said,
December 10, 2011 at 4:49 pm
Or a vet who is a vet…Must exist too. This reminds me of a book review I read not too long ago about the dogs in Vietnam. I think that was a bit of a drama rather.