In “Hero Complex,” Wednesday night’s episode of CBS’s Code Black, two doctors practicing at Angel’s Memorial Hospital clash over California’s End of Life Option Act – state-sanctioned assisted suicide.
In this episode, the patient, Whitney, is a 22-year-old woman who is brought into the emergency room experiencing seizures. Dr. Will Campbell (Boris Kodjoe) recognizes her as a former patient and fills the others in on her case. He removed a primary tumor 5 years ago and now she is suffering from a sarcoma that has spread to her brain. During her stay in the hospital, she asks Dr. Campbell to sign off on the form to allow an assisted suicide. He voices a very pro-life argument to her – she is young and should live out her life. He refuses to sign the form.
Enter Dr. Ethan Willis (Rob Lowe). After listening to Whitney tell him about her desire to die he thinks he needs to step in. He has a conversation with Dr. Campbell and learns of Campbell’s disapproval.
As Dr. Campbell says, “My job is to keep my patients alive, not help them die.” He describes what he calls “throw, don’t go” – if someone is drowning, you don’t jump in but you throw that person a line. You don’t let go, you stand strong.
Campbell: My job is to keep my patients alive, not help them die.
Willis: But this isn't about you or what you want. It's about what she wants.
Campbell: Right. You know what she wants? She's been my patient for years. You've known her for hours.
Willis: This disease, it dictated everything in her life since the minute she's had it. Now she wants to dictate how it ends.
Campbell: Or she's drowning in self-pity. You ever heard the phrase, "Throw, don't go"? You know, if somebody's drowning, you don't jump in with them. You throw her a line and you stand strong. You never let go, no matter how frustrated or tired she gets.
Willis: Why do I get the feeling we're not talking about Whitney anymore?
Campbell: I see. Now you think you know me.
Willis: Not yet, but you did just get more interesting.
Whitney’s mom arrives at the hospital after learning her daughter was admitted and after seeing Whitney’s disappointment with her mother’s refusal to go along with her wish to die, Dr. Willis talks to the mom. He tells her about his own mother’s struggle with A.L.S. and said that she would have utilized the California law if she had had that option. Frankly, this seems a bit much.
This being Hollywood’s fantasy happy ending, Dr. Willis's talk works and he brings wine to Whitney’s hospital room while mom comes in with the magic pill. Whitney washes down the suicide pill with the wine and the mom crawls into bed with her, telling her she just wants her to rest. How wonderful.
Mom: Hold out your hand, honey.
Whitney: Thank you.
Willis: I'm not gonna stop it, but I need to monitor your heart.
Whitney: Mommy. Mommy. Don't cry. It's okay.
Mom: Oh, God. I want you to rest. I want you to rest now.
When Dr. Campbell finds out what Dr. Willis had done, he is angry. And then he lowers the boom. He tells Willis that he would have liked to say goodbye.
That’s one problem with suicide – loved ones and others in the person’s life don’t get to say goodbye. Even wrapped up in liberal touchy feely action, assisted suicide is not compassionate to the patient or the ones left behind.
