New Amsterdam: simplistic answers or profound simplicity

Photo by Richard Catabay on Unsplash

I am currently watching New Amsterdam. Spoiler alerts follow.

I love it.

The show captured me in the first season with a new medical director who arrives at a massive hospital called New Amsterdam. On his first day he fires the entire billing department, cardiac department and provides increases of interns and attendants. His catch phrase is "How can I help?" He is harassed by board members, but as the hero of the show, begins to gain popularity and influence. He is also hiding cancer from everyone. All that happens in episode 1 of season 1 and about 5 minutes into the episode.

The show deals with a variety of issues: adoption, foster care, psychiatry, gender issues, addiction, relationships, lying, racism, family values, multiculturalism, religion and grief to name a few.

For example:
When faced with the problem of the rise of African-American heart disease and the problems of health care for African-Americans that has grown out of systemic racism of the past, the show offers an intriguing solution: have hypertension diagnosed and prescription medication prescribed by people African American men trust - their barbers. Medical help provided with the oversight of the doctor involved. The hospital board chair is obviously furious and accuses the medical director of "decentralizing and de-professionalizing health care".

Another example:
Season 2 focuses on grief and how to deal with the love of a lost one. They delve into illusion, denial, anger, bargaining, anxiety, withdrawal and a host of other issues. This story line is a story arc of the second season, so I don't know how it resolves yet. But it is fascinating and intriguing.

I find myself pondering the problems and the solutions the show poses. Are the solutions fictional nonsense and simplistic answers OR are they profound in their simplicity and reveal a lack of courage on our part to really fix the problems we face.

I personally believe it's the latter. We are afraid to try as people. We are afraid to attempt solutions out of fear for what might go wrong, or what might not work. We are afraid. I find the show pushes me to face that fear and to at least try something. Try to make a difference. Try to find a solution. Try to contribute.

And before any of you Star Wars fans send me meme's from Yoda, when I say try, I mean do.

What problems face you these days? Are you afraid to try something? Why not try it and see what happens? Maybe it will be simplistic nonsense, but maybe, just maybe, it will be a profound solution that changes your world, or those you are trying to help.