Doctors attack ER's heroic healers

Doctors today slammed the life-saving heroics of TV doctors on Casualty and ER, saying it gave patients unrealistic expectations.

Dr Carter in ER and Dr Ric Griffin in Holby City are often shown managing to revive characters who have suffered heart attacks or horrific accidents - but doctors say the reality is very different.

Research has shown that on television, 77 per cent of "patients" are resuscitated and 67 per cent recover enough to leave hospital.

In real life, fewer than half of those whose heart stops while in hospital are brought back and fewer than a third of those survive to go home.

The chances of surviving if you suffer a heart attack on the street is even lower - two per cent.

Trainee GP Andrew Thomson said: "This impression from the media is that CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is a highly effective emergency treatment for anyone who has collapsed. Many are surprised to learn that this is often a myth."

He told the British Medical Association conference in Manchester that the "magical" recovery shown on TV after a few chest compressions or one jolt with the defibrillator when the patient suddenly gasps back to life is just not realistic.

Dr Thomson, from Angus in Scotland, said the media portrayal of CPR is making doctors' lives more difficult and called on programme-makers to change the impression given to viewers.

He said there were often difficult decisions to make over whether to attempt CPR if a very sick patient stops breathing and doctors are now having to debunk the television myth of the chances of success when talking to relatives. He said: "These difficult decisions are directly hampered by inaccurate media portrayal, making the required decisions more traumatic for all involved.

"I have witnessed this myself ... they bring their expectations from the media into hospital.

"Let's stop protecting reality and inform patients about CPR through the media, competently providing realism."

Dr Thomson said he thought the reality might even be more of a draw to viewers of the programmes.

Katie McLaren, from the junior doctors' committee, said she had faced a difficult situation with the family of a very sick elderly woman when discussing if it was in her best interests to attempt resuscitation if she stopped breathing.