Atypical angina in the hemothorax? Get me 5000ccs of tamoxifen STAT

July 22, 2017 11:44 AM

I'm looking for the most ridiculous misuses of medical jargon in film or television ever. There are surely loads of examples of horrific misapplications of real terminology - many bonus points shall be awarded for YouTube examples!
posted by Ten Cold Hot Dogs to Media & Arts (9 answers total)

The first one that springs to my mind is the scene from Star Trek IV where they're trying to rescue Chekov from the hospital, and Kirk, McCoy, and Gillian have to bluff their way past the Law Enforcement guarding the operating room. Bones tosses off:

"My God, man. Do you want an acute case on your hands? This woman has immediate postprandial, upper-abdominal distention. Now, out of the way! Get out of the way!"

Once they're inside Jim asks Bones what he said she had, and McCoy casually replies "Cramps."
posted by radwolf76 at 4:20 PM on July 22, 2017 [3 favorites]

Best answer: This doctor describes his pet peeves.
posted by SyraCarol at 5:39 PM on July 22, 2017 [2 favorites]

Best answer: This doctor describes his pet peeves.

Her pet peeves.
posted by Orlop at 6:59 PM on July 22, 2017 [10 favorites]

I stopped watching "24" early in Season 1, after Jack Bauer demanded that someone should look up the serial number of an implant in "the AMA database" to identify a murder victim.
posted by timeo danaos at 7:20 PM on July 22, 2017 [3 favorites]

Best answer: And That Mitchell Webb look have a different https://youtu.be/C_AmdvxbPT8
posted by askmehow at 11:59 PM on July 22, 2017 [1 favorite]

Interesting comment in the pet peeves link. Someone writes that British shows are required to show medical procedures accurately.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 6:19 AM on July 23, 2017 [1 favorite]

British shows are required to show medical procedures accurately

Really? Somebody should tell Holby City...
posted by tinkletown at 5:31 PM on July 23, 2017 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Oh and this wasn't jargon as such, but the most famous one I can think of was Todd from Neighbours's dying speech, delivered while supposedly intubated.
posted by tinkletown at 5:37 PM on July 23, 2017 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Oh and this wasn't jargon as such, but the most famous one I can think of was Todd from Neighbours's dying speech, delivered while supposedly intubated.

This is hilarious and amazing, thank you! Thanks everybody else, especially SyraCarol for that brilliant article.
posted by Ten Cold Hot Dogs at 11:25 PM on August 15, 2017