The Amputee Coalition announced that it is working with ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy to provide insight into limb loss and the journey to recovery and readjustment. Now in its ninth season, the producers of the television drama have written into its storyline the leg amputation of one of its main characters following an airplane crash-Dr. Arizona Robbins, played by actress Jessica Capshaw.
“This is the first time on national television that viewers will be shown the arduous journey following amputation,” said Kendra Calhoun, president and CEO of the Amputee Coalition. “We applaud the producers of Grey’s Anatomy for raising awareness of limb loss by writing into its storyline the leg amputation of a main character, and for actively striving to ensure the portrayal is as realistic and authentic as possible.”
Calhoun said that the show’s producer contacted the Coalition this summer, asking for help in arranging what essentially amounted to an extended peer visit via phone with Capshaw. Since then, Capshaw has had regular conversations with Peggy Chenoweth, a transtibial amputee who is the Coalition’s social media coordinator, about what happens after limb loss and what to expect emotionally and physically. In addition, the show has interviewed Jeff Cain, MD, a past Coalition board member, who is a family practice physician and bilateral amputee.
“More and more amputees are in the media, which is positive because it shows people living well with limb loss,” said Marshall J. Cohen, chairman of the board of directors for the Amputee Coalition. “The Coalition urges accurate portrayal of amputees in the media, and we are a strong advocate for amputees to play amputees in Hollywood and on Broadway. Of course, on Grey’s Anatomy, Dr. Arizona Robbins is an established character and it would be unrealistic to expect the show to replace Jessica Capshaw with another actress who is an actual amputee.”
