Grey's Anatomy often prides itself on being a somewhat scientifically accurate medical drama. While its contemporaries like Chicago Med and New Amsterdam strive to take their stories to new heights, Grey's Anatomy prefers to keep the audience grounded in its realistic arcs. Yet, some audiences believe that the hit medical drama has gone too overboard in recent years and now allows its doctors to do whatever they please.
Aside from ignoring the Hippocratic Oath, a lot of these doctors spend more of their time solving their own personal crises. Yet, that's what makes the show so spectacular; it isn't afraid to show a darker side to modern healthcare. However, a lot of fans agree that some of Grey Sloan's best doctors should've been kicked out a long time ago.
An Iconic Character Who Has Made Far Too Many Mistakes
Meredith Grey
Aside from committing insurance fraud and having steamy dalliances with a handful of co-workers, Meredith Grey has made a plethora of fatal errors. In Season 2, she resuscitates a DNR patient, causing her friends and family to feel utterly horrified. She also flushes her mother's ashes down a hospital sink in Season 4, which is touching but also incredibly unhygienic.
Thus, it seems that Meredith Grey is free from criticism not only because she's the protagonist but because she has so many connections. Over the past 20 seasons, many of her peers have placed her on a pedestal, ensuring that she is free from any consequences. In turn, it seems that no matter how many mistakes she makes, Meredith Grey will never fall from grace.
This Character Gives His Interns Far Too Much Responsibility
Preston Burke
A lot of Grey's Anatomy fans already have a strong distaste for Preston Burke, mainly for the way he treated Christina at the altar on their wedding day. Yet, despite his high status at Grey Sloan, he also managed to rack up a few fireable offenses. In "A Hard Day's Night" allows George O'Malley to complete an appendectomy, which he is not at all ready for. Thus, O'Malley was ridiculed for being the first intern to nearly kill his patient. Strangely enough, Burke also left a towel inside a patient and did not admit to it for five years.
Burke was likely kept on for so many years because of his seniority. He quickly became a mentor for the initial set of MAGIC interns, which meant that other surgeons didn't have to deal with them. However, it could be argued that Burke's sloppy handiwork was also passed down to the next generation of interns.
A Likable Surgeon Who Should Have Left a Lot Sooner Than She Did
Izzie Stevens
Though she actually got let go in Season 6, Izzie Stevens placed a ton of patients and staff members at risk during her relatively short time at the hospital. Not only did she cut Denny Duquette's LVAD so that he could get bumped up the transplant list, but she also had sex in the hospital numerous times. To make matters worse, when she was finally given some responsibility, she ruined it. For example, in Season 4, she forced her interns to work on a deer that had been badly injured in a road accident.
Despite all of her flaws, a lot of fans can't help but feel sorry for Izzie. She was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer in Season 5, Episode 17, "I Will Follow You Into the Dark," and the audience, as well as her peers, were forced to confront her mortality. But, due to harsh budget cuts at Seattle Grace, Stevens made a critical dosage error, forcing her out of the hospital for good.
This Talented Surgeon Only Suffered Minor Consequences
Ben Warren
Audiences will best recognize Ben Warren from the Grey's Anatomy spin-off series Station 19. However, Warren also completed a brief stint at Grey Sloan, which caused him to experience a short-term suspension. In Season 12, Episode 18, "There's a Fine, Fine Line," Ben completes an emergency c-section on a pregnant woman without any proper surgical equipment. Though Warren obviously faced a massive moral dilemma, his actions were considered incredibly compulsive.
Any normal hospital would have booted a surgeon out the door for that kind of behavior. Instead, Warren was put on probation for 6 months and was still allowed to work in the hospital as an attending anesthesiologist. Again, it seems that the writers refuse to get rid of Warren because of his relationship with Miranda Bailey. Thus, it seems that he's immune to any sort of long-term consequences, even if he did those wrongful actions in good nature.
A Loving Doctor Who Shares Far Too Much
Jo Wilson
Jo Wilson captivated audiences with her tragic backstory and determined heart. Yet, her relationship with Alex Karev led her to disclose private information about a patient. Admittedly, the patient was Karev's father, so he did have a right to know. Yet, simple things like this can get a medical professional in heaps of trouble. Not to mention, in "Head Over High Heels," she arrives to work drunk and even keeps a stash of vodka in her water bottle.
Most of the time, fans can turn a blind eye to a character's silly mistakes, especially when they're struggling emotionally. Yet, in Jo's case, audiences were frustrated that she couldn’t get a hold of herself. As such, with her whole life falling apart around her, audiences were annoyed that she only made matters worse with her drinking.
An Intern Makes a Grave Blunder
Lexie Grey
Overall, Lexie Grey is the most innocent out of the doctors listed so far, which is why she earns a spot at the halfway point on this list. Yet, her relationship with Sadie Harris forced her to drag in a pair of senior doctors to help save the latter's life. In Season 5, Episode 9, "In the Midnight Hour," Harris convinces Lexie and a group of other interns to complete an appendectomy on her. But, when her blood pressure plummets, Grey is forced to recruit Meredith and Cristina to help Sadie stay alive.
Although Lexie feels incredibly guilty for nearly killing her best friend, she manages to avoid any major consequences. Meredith places her on probation and will only allow her to enter the OR once she's shown that she can be a reliable intern. As such, a lot of fans believe that Lexie got a lucky escape in this case.
This Doctor Struggles to Control Her Temper
Stephanie Edwards
Much like some of her predecessors, Stephanie Edwards suffered a ton of trauma during her time at the hospital. After Heather Brooks died, she struggled to process her grief and, in turn, suffered a lot of mental turmoil. But, it seems that everything came to a head in "Leave It Inside." After struggling to communicate with a parent, Stephanie storms off and slams her tablet against the wall.
Fortunately, her superiors recognized that she was showing signs of Resident Burnout and swiftly got her some help. However, Stephanie's actions were completely unacceptable, especially in front of a sick child. As such, a lot of fans think her peers were too soft on her and that she should've been suspended for her foul behavior instead of being given a helping hand.
A Long-Running Character Who Can’t Control Her Own Chaos
April Kepner
April Kepner first joined Grey's Anatomy in Season 6 and was involved in a wide variety of intense storylines. Yet, in Season 14, she nearly killed a patient and a fellow doctor. In "Games People Play," she accidentally cuts her patient's ear lobe, creating a stream of blood. When her peer, Andrew DeLuca, rushes in to try and save the day, he slips on a pool of blood and gives himself a concussion.
This is one of Grey's Anatomy's funniest moments, but a lot of fans just can't ignore Kepner's unprofessionalism. Firstly, she cut off a patient's ear lobe but also didn't warn anyone around her about the potential hazards. So, even though this incident wasn't entirely April's fault, a lot of audiences believe that she should've done more to keep the situation under control.
This Dreamboat Is More Problematic Than Fans Remember
Derek Shepherd
Very few fans will ever speak ill of Derek Shepherd, but it's also important that audiences take a closer look at his professional flaws. Not only did this suave surgeon sleep with Meredith in almost every part of the hospital, but he also engaged in secret surgeries. Back in Season 1, Richard Webber started to have blurry vision, so Shepherd ordered an urgent MRI. Once he found a tumor on Webber's optic nerve, he secretly took it out without Webber realizing it.
Though some would argue that this is a very commendable act, it's still immoral in the realm of medicine. Oftentimes, Shephard is regarded as a legendary figure within the Grey's Anatomy universe, mostly because of his relationship with Meredith. However, moments like this prove that he's no better than any other doctor strolling through the halls of Grey Sloan.
This Fan Favorite Intern Is Also a Lady Killer
Alex Karev
Many fans hold Alex Karev near and dear to their hearts because they watched him grow from an immature intern into a talented surgeon. Yet, a lot of fans would also agree that he has been allowed to get away with far too much. As such, he earns the top spot on this list.
Putting aside his immoral relationships with patients and co-workers, Karev has little to no respect for his friends. An early example would be in Season 1, Episode 4, "No Man's Land," where he shows off a set of inappropriate photos that Izzie took during her modeling days. Though these photos were public, a lot of fans looked down on Alex for doing such a hurtful thing to one of his pals and colleagues.
