Meredith's 5 Most Hilariously Incompetent Moments on Grey's Anatomy
Despite being the protagonist of a medical show, Meredith Grey seems to consistently put her personal feelings and issues ahead of work.
In the show's 19-year run, the leading character of Grey's Anatomy has gone from an intern to a superhero. Though flawed and relatable in the early seasons, by her exit Meredith has become a sort of goddess of general surgery constantly praised by all the show's characters. But is her brilliance actually that undeniable?
A closer look at Grey's Anatomy's many storylines shows that Meredith often let her personal issues stand in the way of her work and acted as an incompetent doctor. Here are five examples of that.
DNR violation
In season 2, Meredith violated a patient's DNR order by reviving them. DNR, or "Do Not Resuscitate," is a request made by patients or their families forbidding medical personnel from performing any actions to revive them if they die. Meredith performed the unwanted procedure while unaware that the patient had a DNR, which is still a violation of the law.
Alzheimer's trial
In season 8, Meredith was working with Derek on an Alzheimer's trial. While testing a new drug, she allowed her personal emotions to override her professional judgment and disregarded protocol by giving Adele, Richard's wife, the experimental drug for her Alzheimer's instead of the placebo. This was a severe violation of ethical standards and got Meredith fired and Derek blacklisted by the FDA.
Unprofessional behavior
In season 10, Meredith and Christina had an infamous season-long fight which resulted in some professional mistakes Meredith made. At first, she was reckless in the OR while treating Alex's teenage patient with a tumor.
Alex and Stephanie were forced to intervene by invoking the "two surgeons overrule one" rule and removing Meredith from the surgery. When Alex pointed out that Meredith's personal issues were impacting her work, she refused to even consider that she had been wrong.
3D printer storyline
Later, Christina urgently needed to use the 3D printer that Meredith had been given for her own project. She did it without asking Meredith, which frustrated both the protagonist and viewers and turned them against Christina. However, Christina needed the printer to save a patient's life, while Meredith only wanted to complete a plastic model of a liver.
Insurance fraud
In season 15, Meredith committed insurance fraud by using her daughter's name instead of that of an uninsured young patient. Though her intention was noble, this illegal action ultimately jeopardized her ability to practice medicine and help others.