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This review may contain spoilers
What Is the Price of a Human Life?
It’s sad that this type of question even has to be asked, but in this world where corporations, politicians, and governments dictate what a human life is worth, then the question is still relevant.
This is a brilliant series that endeavors to not only ask the question but asks the viewer to really think about it. In a day and age where people lose their livelihoods due to medical costs and outrageous health insurance coverage (that is incredibly expensive and covers very little; at least in the US, which has the worst health care system on the planet), what exactly is the cost of a human life? Sadly, most people don’t care enough about what happens to others, unless they are directly affected by an emergency circumstance that threatens to take the life of one of their own loved ones.
Dr. Baek Gang Hyeok is a brilliant trauma surgeon who’s just returned from serving as a doctor with a private military company. He is brought in by the Minister of Health and Welfare with the hope of turning around the ER at a local hospital, where the trauma department (or lack thereof) is struggling. Doctors on-call are from other departments where they have very little—if any—trauma experience.
Dr. Baek is a no-nonsense doctor, who is as passionate about saving lives as he is as the premier trauma surgeon in the country. For Dr. Baek, nothing is more important than saving a life, no matter the cost or even the danger, in some cases! Watching Dr. Baek jump out of a helicopter with his young, terrified protégé in tow, was both amazing and hilarious! But it also demonstrated his amazing dedication to doing whatever it takes. I daresay that any sane person would want this type of doctor around.
Dr. Baek immediately sets up a trauma center at the hospital much to the consternation of the higher-ups, especially the Chief as well as the Director who both want Dr. Baek gone at all costs. They see him as an obstruction to the hospital’s profits. Hence, comes a question that Dr. Baek, himself asks: since when is money more valuable than saving a life?
At one point, the Chief is so hellbent on destroying Dr. Baek and his reputation, that he works with the Rescue Chief to ground the rescue helicopters unless the request is sent through proper channels. Unfortunately, this leads to a patient who ends up in a coma because Dr. Baek and his team had to use an ambulance to get to the site instead of a helicopter, thus losing valuable time. After all, in an emergency situation, time is everything.
Even at just eight episodes, the series proves that it is as entertaining as it is important. In too many countries, money is more important than saving lives. Some hospitals will turn away patients if they can’t pay. Some patients are buried under so many medical bills that they end up having to sell their homes and anything else to try and pay it off. Jon Stewart wisely stated once, “No person on this planet should have to lose their livelihood due to medical costs.” It’s not just disturbing. It’s criminal. For what sane country would bleed its own people to death over money?
Performances in this series are all first-rate. Ju Ji Hoon quickly won me over as the immovable Dr. Baek who condescends to nobody, and like Dr. House, calls out anyone over the stupidity of protocols that threatens to take a life. I love how he gets after doctors and anesthesiologists who are summoned to the trauma center to help with a case, but they simply can’t be bothered. Anyone who behaves like that in the medical field as no business, absolutely none, being in it. In fact, such people who put lives at risk should be prosecuted, especially if their procrastination leads to someone’s death.
I also enjoyed veteran actor, Yoon Gyung Ho (Dr. Han), who often plays bad guys and villains, as a doctor who is initially on the side of the Chief and the Director but suddenly sees Dr. Baek’s value when Dr. Baek saves the life of Dr. Han’s daughter. When it comes to change, it’s better late than never! And Dr. Han quickly becomes Dr. Baek’s staunchest supporter.
As with so many great K-dramas, this one is loaded with humor, excitement, entertainment, and some truly tender and heartfelt moments. Shows like this one are invaluable as they put a spotlight on a problem and ask that something be done about it. Now, that’s using entertainment wisely.
This is a brilliant series that endeavors to not only ask the question but asks the viewer to really think about it. In a day and age where people lose their livelihoods due to medical costs and outrageous health insurance coverage (that is incredibly expensive and covers very little; at least in the US, which has the worst health care system on the planet), what exactly is the cost of a human life? Sadly, most people don’t care enough about what happens to others, unless they are directly affected by an emergency circumstance that threatens to take the life of one of their own loved ones.
Dr. Baek Gang Hyeok is a brilliant trauma surgeon who’s just returned from serving as a doctor with a private military company. He is brought in by the Minister of Health and Welfare with the hope of turning around the ER at a local hospital, where the trauma department (or lack thereof) is struggling. Doctors on-call are from other departments where they have very little—if any—trauma experience.
Dr. Baek is a no-nonsense doctor, who is as passionate about saving lives as he is as the premier trauma surgeon in the country. For Dr. Baek, nothing is more important than saving a life, no matter the cost or even the danger, in some cases! Watching Dr. Baek jump out of a helicopter with his young, terrified protégé in tow, was both amazing and hilarious! But it also demonstrated his amazing dedication to doing whatever it takes. I daresay that any sane person would want this type of doctor around.
Dr. Baek immediately sets up a trauma center at the hospital much to the consternation of the higher-ups, especially the Chief as well as the Director who both want Dr. Baek gone at all costs. They see him as an obstruction to the hospital’s profits. Hence, comes a question that Dr. Baek, himself asks: since when is money more valuable than saving a life?
At one point, the Chief is so hellbent on destroying Dr. Baek and his reputation, that he works with the Rescue Chief to ground the rescue helicopters unless the request is sent through proper channels. Unfortunately, this leads to a patient who ends up in a coma because Dr. Baek and his team had to use an ambulance to get to the site instead of a helicopter, thus losing valuable time. After all, in an emergency situation, time is everything.
Even at just eight episodes, the series proves that it is as entertaining as it is important. In too many countries, money is more important than saving lives. Some hospitals will turn away patients if they can’t pay. Some patients are buried under so many medical bills that they end up having to sell their homes and anything else to try and pay it off. Jon Stewart wisely stated once, “No person on this planet should have to lose their livelihood due to medical costs.” It’s not just disturbing. It’s criminal. For what sane country would bleed its own people to death over money?
Performances in this series are all first-rate. Ju Ji Hoon quickly won me over as the immovable Dr. Baek who condescends to nobody, and like Dr. House, calls out anyone over the stupidity of protocols that threatens to take a life. I love how he gets after doctors and anesthesiologists who are summoned to the trauma center to help with a case, but they simply can’t be bothered. Anyone who behaves like that in the medical field as no business, absolutely none, being in it. In fact, such people who put lives at risk should be prosecuted, especially if their procrastination leads to someone’s death.
I also enjoyed veteran actor, Yoon Gyung Ho (Dr. Han), who often plays bad guys and villains, as a doctor who is initially on the side of the Chief and the Director but suddenly sees Dr. Baek’s value when Dr. Baek saves the life of Dr. Han’s daughter. When it comes to change, it’s better late than never! And Dr. Han quickly becomes Dr. Baek’s staunchest supporter.
As with so many great K-dramas, this one is loaded with humor, excitement, entertainment, and some truly tender and heartfelt moments. Shows like this one are invaluable as they put a spotlight on a problem and ask that something be done about it. Now, that’s using entertainment wisely.
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