Ep 17. Doll E. Wood

The Resident season 3 episode 17, titled "Doll E. Wood," delves into the complex and divisive issue of gun control in the United States. The story centers around a gun violence survivor, a young woman named Doll E. Wood, who enters Chastain Park Memorial Hospital after being shot during a robbery. Once at the hospital, Doll vehemently refuses to let the medical staff remove the bullet from her body. The resident doctors, including main character Dr. Nic Nevin, quickly realize that Doll has a deep-seated trauma surrounding gun violence that is preventing her from receiving the necessary medical care to save her life.

As the episode unfolds, the audience learns more about Doll's background and why she has such a strong aversion to guns. She recounts her experiences of growing up in a household with a father who was an avid gun collector, and the fear she felt when she accidentally shot her little brother with one of his guns. This traumatic event had a lasting impact on Doll and molded her viewpoint on guns and gun control.

Meanwhile, as Doll's condition deteriorates, the Chastain doctors are met with challenges in providing her the appropriate medical care. Her bullet wound is in close proximity to a major artery, creating a high-risk situation for surgery. To make matters worse, Doll's father is staunchly against her doctors performing the surgery due to his own beliefs about gun control and medical intervention.

Throughout the episode, Doll and her father are met with different pressures from people with varying viewpoints on gun control. Gun control advocates, including a representative from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, reach out to them offering support while others, including gun rights activists, argue that Doll's story is a cautionary tale against the dangers of gun control and the potential consequences of gun confiscation.

Ultimately, "Doll E. Wood" presents a nuanced and intricate portrayal of one woman's experience with gun violence and the complexities surrounding the American debate on gun control. As Doll's medical situation inches closer to becoming fatal, the doctors are forced to make a difficult moral decision - respect the patient's autonomy and refusal of care, or override her wishes and provide the necessary medical intervention.

In conclusion, The Resident season 3 episode 17, "Doll E. Wood," is a thought-provoking and emotionally charged episode that tackles a controversial and relevant issue. As the audience follows Doll's journey through Chastain Park Memorial Hospital, the episode ultimately leaves them with the question: where is the line between a person's rights to their own body and the necessity of medical intervention?