Comments on: Detective Comics #816: A Quick Visual Medical Review

By: Martin Wisse

Martin Wisse — Thu, 11 May 2006 21:27:28 +0000

Here in the Netherlands the names of the patients are still listed outside the room; it seems very American to not do so. Bet y’all don;t have communal wards anymore either?

By: Cliff Chiang

Cliff Chiang — Fri, 17 Mar 2006 03:55:23 +0000

Wow, this is great! I wondered if someone would catch that. Yes, I was hesitant to put the name on the door, but it was called for in the script (the writer is Australian, so he’s probably unaware of our privacy laws. Given that the name had to be on the door (Zsasz has to enter hospital quickly and dispatch the police guarding the room, so no time for looking up records on the computer), I tried to keep the rest of the details in line with that. Thus, chart holder, hinged room number (to easily replace patient names) and the little square next to the room number was supposed to be a braille number (but I got lazy and the pages were due!).

You both get No-Prizes!

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 15:38:10 +0000

Well, you’re right…it is a trap for Zzassszzz (or however it’s spelled). Names on doors was a common practice when I was in residency, but now it earns big big $$$$ fines. Still, if anyone deserves some artistic license, it’s Chiang.

By: gorjus

gorjus — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 15:29:28 +0000

Unlike most of the gaffes you catch, Scott, I’m going to say this one should be excused by artistic license. I think the artist did a lot of research–you don’t just have a nametag outside the door, you have big, blocky numerals, which is realistic, and most importantly (and something I wouldn’t have thought offhand to put in there), you have a place to stash the chart. I think that shows that the artist is working hard at realism.

That said, it adds a bit of dramatic tension (although unecessary) to see Alfred’s name on it. I’m not going to play writer guessing game as to why Alfred would be in a conventional hospital, on an unsecured floor, or why millionaire Bruce Wayne couldn’t have 1,000 armed guards around him . . . ugh. Batman comic make me head hurt so bad.

Hmm. No-prize attempt: Batman WANTS his name on the door, because it’s a trap for Zszazasazasaz!! That’s not Alfred, that’s . . . ugh, again.

Where are the answers to the quiz????