Vivian Bearing: Movie Analysis

Vivian Bearings is a single middle-aged woman who has just found out that she has stage IV metastatic ovarian cancer. Dr. Kelekian goes from telling her the diagnosis to having her sign a consent form for a very harsh form of chemotherapy in a matter of minutes. She is not even given any time to emotionally process the diagnosis. Dr. Posner, the young doctor working with Dr. Kelekian, while performing an exam on Vivian only speaks of himself and does not even explain any part of the procedure to the patient. During the pelvic exam Dr. Posner says “Jesus!” and gives Vivian no explanation as to what he meant by it. Throughout the movie, Vivian’s Nurse Susie is the only person as far as hospital staff who speaks to Vivian as a person and seeks her thoughts and feelings on her care. Susie is tricked into the room by Vivian to talk late one night. Susie asks Vivian about being able to sleep. Susie explores and validates Vivian’s feelings and uses therapeutic touch. She then
Dr. Posner treats Vivian like a science experiment even talking about how awesome cancer is but that he wants to get into research and not waste his time with the patient care side. Both Dr. Kelekian and Dr. Posner throughout the movie keep saying that Vivian is strong implying that the rounds of harsh chemotherapy are not going to affect her negatively. They do not even consider reducing the dose when the nurse makes the suggestion. When the group of Doctors come into Vivian’s room during rounds, their only focus is themselves while Vivian is just lying there not being spoken to. They all palpate her stomach without asking and her gown is left up when they leave the room. Vivian herself recognizes the lack of care from her doctors when she states that she knows they will be pleased about her completing the chemotherapy only for the reason of the recognition they will get from