I hate medical television – it’s always these overly dramatic people, barely touching on real subjects and everyone always has some earthly catastrophic event happening to them. Nothing seems overly believable – half the time you’re wondering what the hell just happened, and the other time you’re concerned over the fact that doctors could be that preoccupied.
But Transplant isn’t like most doctors shows. It is a show that is not afraid to push the boundaries and address the situations that a lot of shows would want to stay away from.
This week was no different.
Bashir is working at York Memorial. But he is completely uncertain about his future in this new workplace, located in a foreign country. On the other hand, Bash must also deal with the constant scrutiny he is under.
THERE FOR A FRIEND
One of my favorite things about the show is Bashir. He’s honorable, trustworthy, and always wants to do the right thing. What he’s overcome and what he continues to battle through – I hold him in the highest regard.
His friend is in trouble. People have been looking for him, and Bashir finds out that his friend is in immigration trouble. His application for asylum had been rejected and the immigration officials are looking for him. So Bashir says he can stay at his place for one night.
Bashir would let him stay longer, but having him there when the police are onto him and he has Amira – that isn’t an option for him.
Here’s the thing about Bashir, he’s survived the worst and he know that going back to Syria isn’t an option for him or his friend. And so he will do anything to help those that need it. Even when he is the one who needs the help.
UNVACCINATED
Wow.
WOW.
They went there. They weren’t afraid and I am in shock.
One thing that I don’t really talk about ever is vaccinations. I have friends on both sides of the aisle. Some that believe that they are good and some that believe that they are bad.
Kids stories always get to me. And we meet Tristan. A young boy that his brother has brought to the hospital, because he is sick. They don’t know what’s wrong and they don’t know how to help him.
But this little boy is fading fast. And I have to admit that I wondered for a second if they were bringing COVID-19 into the show. But we find out that the kid is getting worse.
His Dad shows up and keeps saying that he’s gonna be fine and he wants to take him home. He wants to make sure that they aren’t pumping him full of drugs. But he’s not giving them all the information. Tristan is not immunized. He has not been vaccinated.
His Dad explains that Tristan’s older brother got one vaccine as a child and his whole side of his face was paralyzed. They decided it wasn’t safe for their kids to be immunized.
We find out that Tristan has diphtheria, which should not be something he gets cause of vaccines. There is no cure for it there because most people don’t get the disease.
So they have to wait for public health to make what they need. And in that time we learn that Max, the older brother went and got himself immunized at 16. We learn that the mom is gone. We learn that the Dad is scared.
And Bashir has no trouble telling the Dad that his son is in this situation because of choices he made. His son could die, and he almost did.
The thing is, this show is made in Canada, and so it isn’t afraid to touch subjects that the US wouldn’t. But that’s part of what I love about it. They put information first.
FRATERNITY INCIDENTS
Hazing. Lord, this is such a thing – but it’s something that we don’t talk about enough. Fraternity’s sometimes don’t think and they think that acting like assholes is just okay.
It’s not.
There are some frat bros in the ER cause one is bleeding from their head. They seem to be on something or drunk, though they swear they are not. I mean, I wasn’t aware people delivered that level of annoyance on a regular level.
So, time goes on and they are going to be released, but the one dude that was the pledge passes out. He’s gone into cardiac arrest. The doctors Keep asking what he took, but the guy swears nothing dangerous. But it is obviously dangerous.
Well, they had been drinking and dude on the table drank an entire bottle of soy sauce. Turns out that you can die from that – his organs were shutting down. And it was so late in them telling what they took that they couldn’t save him.
I will never understand someone going to a doctor and not telling them what is wrong so they can actually help you. It’s so important to your health.
I will not ever understand hazing though and why greek life thinks that it is okay.
I SHALL TELL NO LIES
Remember Bashir’s friend that needed help. Well, he had tried to help Bashir by getting him fake papers. See, the hospital wants his transcripts but Bashir can’t get them. It’s hard to get anything out of Syria due to the war.
So his friend gets him forgeries. Bashir is torn, because for him, he knows that he is a doctor and he knows that he’s more advanced in his field than a lot of people that work at the hospital. The transcripts would definitely help him, but you can tell he is torn.
Bashir is committed to making a good life in Canada and protecting Amira and that I admire from him. I mean, would you hand over the fake transcripts in order to protect your life and your family?
I think that I would.
But when it comes to Bashir, he has lived a life that has been lies and fear and he’s not going to lie when he doesn’t have to. He’s so proud of what he has overcome (and rightfully so) and doesn’t want to be dishonest.
I believe that Bashir’s pride is one thing that is great, but one thing that is bad about him. Pride gets in the way of too many things.
He answered every question. Doctor Bishop went in there and stood up for him. Bishop made sure that they knew that he was behind Bashir. But even Bishop didn’t understand the extremes that Bashir had lived through.
When Bashir tried explaining that doctors were enemies of the state in Syria and that he was one, Bishop cut him off. But it made me think one thing – I want to know more about his time in Syria.
The lawyer was twisting his words, so Doctor Bishop called and end to the meeting and said that they’d circle back.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- I don’t get the point of the amnesia patient. I felt like that shit was just tossed in there to fill time.
- Dr. Leblanc – there is something there that we are missing and not getting. I don’t know what it is. But she’s too attached to the hospital and I think he storyline unfolding is interesting.
- Why is Doctor Curtis so afraid of people knowing that she’s into the security guard? Like girl, get yours. You can be on the road to your dreams and still fall in love.
- The super at Bashir’s building is kinda a douche.
- I want to know more about Bashir and Amira’s life in Syria. We found out Amira spent time in camps without him and I really think unfolding her story would be interesting.
- Bashir using the last bit of money he had to help his friend is a testament to his heart and we could all learn from him.
