FOX's The Resident - Episode 2.02 "The Prince & the Pauper"
Bell grows frustrated when Marshall Winthrop requests Conrad's input in his discussions about the hospital's expenses. As Conrad and Nic work to cut costs for their patients in need, Julian Lynn, a sharp and sophisticated medical device rep, meets the staff and inserts herself into the ongoing work of the doctors to promote her costly products. Mina's relationship with Micah struggles in the wake of his healing process. Devon is tasked with showing the eager new interns around the hospital.
In 2018, it has become very difficult to keep up with every television show out there. It's even more difficult to provide adequate coverage on this site about the episodes that air every week. Not every show can get full coverage because of my busy and hectic viewing schedule. As such, some reviews will now be condensed to give only some summary thoughts. But it also affords a space for me to jot down my thoughts on the various episodes. And so, here are my thoughts on this week's episode of FOX's The Resident.
"The Prince & the Pauper" was written by Amy Holden Jones & Andrew Chapman and directed by Nicole Rubio
The Resident has always wanted the audience to be aware that medicine is a business. Every single action made by these characters has to be seen through the perspective of what it will cost to either the doctors, the patients or the hospital administrations. There is a new board this season. Marshall as the chairman means that the CEO no longer has as much power. And yet, Bell is still able to exert his influence whenever it best suits him. He is still in a position of great power even though he turned on the woman who was fueling all of these newfound ambitions for success in this business. And now, this episode highlights the different ways medicine and the cost of it can play out for those in different class structures. Jack is just a teenager roller dancing when he gets injured. That incident leads to an ever growing cause for concern when cancer is discovered and the surgeons have to remove his entire pancreas. That means he will have to be a diabetic for the rest of his life. Throughout the handling of this case, Conrad is trying to find the cost efficient way of handling things that won't bankrupt the patient. That's his largest concern upon realizing that the hospitals are paying off helicopter companies to bring them patients. That leads to a massive pile up when Jack needs to get to a hospital as quickly as possible. The team that actually go to him instead of arguing with each other is the one that should be getting these jobs. It's also a steep price to pay for a ten minute ride. And yet, Jack comes from money. His family is able to afford the helicopter and the surgeries. They just want to ensure that he survives. They've already lost one child to cancer. They want only the best for their son. That still turns out to be Chastain. Even with Bell doing the final procedure, everything works out for Jack. There is even an offer for a device to be implanted inside his body to regulate insulin for him. He won't even have to constantly be checking his numbers and injecting his medicine into his body. To this family, it's a small price to pay. It's a miracle that this device exists and the sales rep is roaming the hospital to pitch it to the family in their time of need. But all of this stands in sharp contrast to a young girl who was trying to stretch out her insulin because her mother couldn't afford it. The cost has rocketed up too much in recent years. The drug has stayed the same. But now, this young girl goes into diabetic shock and has the perception of being a drug seeker because her family doesn't have the opportunity to afford this medication. As such, this miracle device wouldn't be a cure for her. It would just be another hassle that is out of reach. This sales rep may be charming. She is played by Jenna Dewan, which means she'll be sticking around for awhile too. But she presents as the face for this billion dollar industry that is just as influential in the care that people receive at hospitals. The cutting-edge technology may simultaneously be the thing that saves your life and bankrupts it. Nic and Mina want to propose a clinic to the board. Marshall just wants to see the numbers to see if it's in the best interest for the hospital financially. Right now, that remains the only thing that Marshall and Bell are worried about. And again, it's all because medicine is a business!
