preview

Grand Rounds: Dr. Bearing

Decent Essays

Starting with the “Grand Rounds” scene, the play begins to really reflect on the doctor-patient relationship. Although we see up to this point, the powerful connection that is forming between Susie and Dr. Bearing, there seems to be no warmth or human emotion in her relationships with Dr. Kelekian and Jason. This scene is especially important because it shows us how impersonal Dr. Bearing feels the teaching hospital and its doctors are towards her. We start to see Vivian lose herself because she finally realizes that as a teacher, she behaves and treats her students the same way that the doctors behave and treat her. This lack of interaction becomes a prevalent theme throughout the play, and we see Dr. Bearing start to transform while gaining a fresh but different perspective, not only in her profession but also in life.
Teaching hospitals are meant to train future professionals while ensuring that they provide the uppermost care for their patients. However, what some teaching hospitals fail to maintain is a strong and positive doctor-patient relationship. You would think that television shows and films …show more content…

Bearing says “in Grand Rounds, they read me like a book. Once I did the teaching, now I am taught.” There is a part from the film, in the Grand Rounds scene, which shows Vivian’s body basically being used as a “book,” as if she were lifeless and of no importance. Because of the atmosphere and lack of interaction with her care providers, all Vivian does while she lies there all day is think about the nature of the hospital. This becomes a turning point in not only her experience with cancer, but her experience with life. What you might think we would learn about Vivian is that she feels sorry for herself due to the situation she is in. However, what we can see from this scene and her flashbacks is that Vivian feels remorseful because she is just as guilty as her doctors, because she too portrays a depersonalized demeanor towards her

Get Access