Why didn't anyone notify Lucy's family?

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What is wrong with this hospital that they can't call a dying girl's mom or SOMEONE to tell them she was in danger? Have I missed the episode where Lucy's entire family and all of her friends die so she has nobody left? Please help me understand.

-- Pookie (eak1213@greenvillenc.com), February 17, 2000

Answers

Suspension of disbelief, I think... How many more scenes could they squeeze in one hour? Hopefully, they'll handle it all gracefully in future episodes.

Parag

-- Parag (paravia@homemail.com), February 17, 2000.


Actually, Weaver sent someone for their personnel files, so they intended to - it never showed the call to the relatives.

-- M.E. (michelle__erickson@hotmail.com), February 17, 2000.

It was kinda more important to save her life than to make phone calls. Plus, they didn't know if there was a murderer lurking around the corner. Have you ever worked in a hospital?

Plus, it's only about a 45 minute show with comercials. I'm glad they didn't spend time showing someone making phone calls.

-- Susan (sooz@nowhere.texas.net), February 17, 2000.


Never worked in a hospital but been in a few having my kids. And last year, when our youngest was in one. And I couldn't work in one at night! I made a comment to her nurse and she said oh you get used to it. My response? No way! Gave me the absolute creeps!!! In the middle of the night, I took a break and daddy took over. I went looking for a vending machine and got lost! There wasn't a soul around. Some of the halls were pitch black and most were lit up by track lighting. I remember thinking "there could be a psycho at the end of that hall and I'd never know it". Granted, yes, they lock the doors up at night but the ER is still open. Needless to say, I got my coffee from the nurses lounge after that little experience.

-- jackiea (jackiea@hotmail.com), February 17, 2000.

I was thinking the same thing! Why didn't they call Lucy's parents? She needed a blood transfusion more then once I understand they didnt have time to wait for her friends & family to give any blood but someone should have be notified. I know it would have taken from the story but I would have liked to have seen who they would have choosen to break the news. I would have thought as close to death as she was they would have called someone to say goodbye to her, they do with all of their other patients.

-- annie (lilannie@uswest.net), February 18, 2000.


I don't really think her friends or family would've had time to get there anyway. The doctors were, I think, in disbelief, shock, and frantically trying to save her life and they were short-staffed. Also, they usually clean the patients up before the family sees them anyway, so maybe (if it had been a two hour episode)...we would've seen them show up right after Romano and Weaver stitched her up. I was so engrossed by the whole show, it seemed to go by so quickly, it should've been 2 hours long!

-- Joy Norrie (joijoy@webtv.net), February 18, 2000.

I think we have to assume they DID contact her family (or maybe they'll get to that next week?). At the time they probably just told her Mom Lucy was hurt and in surgery or something. I suspect that Lucy's Mom will come in next week and say so-and-so called me, where is my daughter. By then someone will have to tell her she died. What do you think?

-- Lily (Lucyszkj@ucrwcu.rwc), February 18, 2000.

Weaver called for the personal files. Someone would have called. Her Family was probably waiting, in the lounge... or unable to be contacted (valentines evening who knows). They did not want to add more to the story, it was complicated enough for the period they had to present it. I am sure they will deal with family reprocussions.

-- Cathy (memeep@twcny.rr.com), February 18, 2000.

We don't know where her mom lives. She may be in another town and not able to get there quickly. I hope they wrap the loose ends up and give us some closure!

-- Bev (bev.burris@eer-h.com), February 18, 2000.

They did. Kerry tells Amira to go "Up to personel and get emergency contact numbers for Carter and Lucy." I saw on Lindsay's ER page (I think) where they cut a scene with Mark and Kerry on the roof where they were talking about having to call Lucy's mother again to tell her she died, and Mark asks what Kerry told her "the first time" and Kerry said something like it was critical, but it looked good.

-- Teddy (richarr@earthlink.net), June 28, 2001.


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