I don’t know what made me think of it, but I just Googled a search for music in operating rooms, and I happened upon this. In particular I would like to note something that Suanna Pruitt, RN in Surgery at the Fort Sanders Hospital in Knoxville, TN, says about television shows set in hospitals vs. real life:
“I’ll notice things on TV that are wrong, such as doctors and nurses with their surgical masks down when they shouldn’t be, or not observing all the sterile procedure rules with their instruments. It’s for dramatic effect, but it’s noticeable. One thing that is similar is the music that’s played in the Operating Room. Sometimes we play country music, or even Easy Listening depending on the doctor’s preference. It helps us relax and focus on our job.”
I think something like $1.6 million per episode is spent making “ER,” and you’re telling me that the only thing reflecting reality is the operating room music? No wonder peoples expectations of medical science are blown so far out of proportion; people are watching too many medical television shows and not enough “Cops.”