Movies - TV
Mike Farrell Made M*A*S*H Change One Medically Unethical Scene
By VALERIE ETTENHOFER
Despite having many hilarious episodes, “M*A*S*H” had somber ones too like Season 7’s “Preventative Medicine,” where Hawkeye medically sidelines a blood-thirsty commander.
Actor Mike Farrell revealed he successfully argued with writers to change his actions in the episode as he felt his character, B.J., wouldn’t agree to the unnecessary appendectomy.
Farrell shared that the story had been inspired by a pair of doctors who performed the surgery on “a real gung-ho officer” to keep him off the front lines for a period of time.
However, Farrell still felt his character wouldn’t perform an appendectomy under false pretenses, telling the writers, “B.J. wouldn’t do that. That’s against medical ethics.”
While the writers insisted the episode was based on an actual event, Farrell responded, “I’m not arguing that, I’m just saying B.J. wouldn’t do it.”
After some time, series producer Burt Metcalfe decided that the actor’s feedback led to a more interesting storyline, leading to a change in the episode.
The episode became a bittersweet take on futility in the face of power. Hawkeye goes through with it while B.J. sits out, and neither act staunches the flow of wounded patients.
This morally complicated situation highlights why “M*A*S*H” was so great. After the surgery, B.J. tells Hawkeye, “You treated a symptom,” but “the disease goes merrily on.”