Spoiler Alert: This post contains spoilers from the Grey’s Anatomy episode titled “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper.” Proceed with caution.
The doctor became the patient on this week’s intense episode of Grey’s Anatomy. The episode saw Chief of Surgery Dr. Miranda Bailey experiencing a heart attack after the stress of managing a hospital and dealing with her husband Ben’s recent career change became too much for her to handle. As Bailey struggled to get a proper diagnosis, flashbacks finally showed a glimpse of her childhood.
Doing It For Herself
As a surgeon, Bailey was clearly aware based on her symptoms that she was experiencing a heart attack. However, time and time again, a number of male doctors did not believe her. They questioned her mental health and blamed it on the problems she had going on at home. However, Bailey was tough and stood her ground. She even called in reinforcements in Richard and Maggie, the latter of whom operated on Bailey. Thankfully she pulled through!
The episode had a crucial message about the importance of being your own advocate when it comes to your health and not taking no for an answer — especially for a women of color. It also had some insightful advice about the different heart attack symptoms men and women experience and why it can be so difficult for women to get the right diagnosis.
Bailey’s Backstory
This episode also revealed some new information about Bailey’s past. Besides flashbacks of departed characters like Callie Torres and Derek Shepard, the episode also showed Bailey’s childhood and her overbearing mother. Bailey couldn’t understand why her mother was so afraid of everything until her father explained the truth: before Bailey was born they had another daughter who, at two months old, died of SIDS. The heartbreaking news made Bailey realize her mother wanted to protect her because she was unable to protect her sister Danielle.
The first trailer for the Grey’s Anatomy spin-off Station 19 also aired during the episode:
Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays at 8 PM on ABC.
