The Underrepresented Role of Rad Techs in Medical TV
Medical TV has never been known for its precision nor its commitment to realistic medical procedures. Rather, it presents an enticing fantasy in which doctors are faced with the rarest diseases, and can solve them satisfyingly in a 20 minute episode window regardless of their specialty, only to come back the following week to do it all over again. Charismatic yet broody doctors, strict yet empathetic nurses, and… what else could there be to patient care? If we use medical TV as a reference, not much else.
There is a mystery afoot on the silver screen. Medical images appear from thin air, machines operate themselves, and doctors of all specialties can look at a CT scan and immediately diagnose. The cast is small and their responsibilities larger than any one person could handle.
Within these gaps lie professions deemed uninteresting by TV producers and writers. Among these hidden professions are radiologic technologists, who are shielded behind the control wall, masking them from the small screen. Have they been rendered useless in media, relegated to button-pushers for the machines that do all the work?
When radiologic technologists do appear on screen, it is rarely to watch them perform their work. Marie Schrader from Breaking Bad, for instance, may have the profession of a radiologic technologist, but this is merely background information for her character. Even in TV focused on hospitals, where we would expect radiologic technologists to thrive, the few we do see are in similar roles. Sara Giamatti and Isaac from Grey’s Anatomy may be radiologic technologists by trade, but their appearances on the show are only as relatives to patients and patients themselves.
Is this ignorance or practicality?
Despite their vital role in healthcare, they are often overlooked in popular culture, particularly in television shows. This lack of representation not only contributes to the misconception of their role in the healthcare system but also fails to inspire young people to pursue careers in radiologic technology.
One reason for this lack of representation is that radiologic technologists are often viewed as supporting characters, overshadowed by the more glamorous roles of doctors and nurses. Medical TV shows tend to focus on the more exciting aspects of the medical field, such as high-stakes surgeries or dramatic diagnoses, and as a result, the role of the radiologic technologist is downplayed.
Another reason for the lack of representation is a lack of understanding of what radiologic technologists do. Many people are unfamiliar with the profession and mistakenly believe that they are simply “x-ray techs” who take images of broken bones. In reality, radiologic technologists perform a wide range of diagnostic imaging procedures and work closely with physicians to provide accurate and timely diagnoses.
The absence of radiologic technologists in medical TV shows not only fails to accurately represent the healthcare field, but it also misses an opportunity to educate the public on the important role they play. By featuring radiologic technologists in medical TV shows, producers and writers could increase awareness of the profession and inspire more people to pursue careers in radiologic technology. The impact of misrepresentation of medical procedures in the media is significant. A study on the influence of perception of radiology among patients of the portrayal of radiology in major medical television series 1 show in part that “TV experience may create false expectations and potential safety hazards” in patients. Patients may expect the process towards diagnosis and treatment to be much quicker, or involve much less staff. The consequences of this depend on how we perceive the impact of medical TV on the public watching it. This lack of representation can ultimately lead to a shortage of qualified radiologic technologists, which can have serious implications for the healthcare system as a whole.
The lack of radiologic technologists in TV shows is a missed opportunity to accurately represent their vital role in the healthcare system and inspire young people to pursue careers in this field. By portraying radiologic technologists as supportive characters, or by excluding them altogether, writers and producers are doing a disservice to the healthcare industry and the public’s understanding of it. It is time for television shows to recognize and highlight the vital role radiologic technologists play in the healthcare system, and to give them the representation they deserve.
1Heye, T., et al. “Portrayal of radiology in a major medical television series: How does it influence the perception of radiology among patients and radiology professionals?.” European radiology 26 (2016): 2863-2869.
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