Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

NBC pulls Nurses episode from digital platforms after backlash over Orthodox Jewish storyline

In the episode, titled ‘Achilles Heel’, an Orthodox Jewish patient refuses a bone graft from a potentially ‘Arab’ or female donor

Rachel Brodsky
Los Angeles
Thursday 25 February 2021 00:12 GMT
Comments
NBC pulls Nurses episode from digital platforms after backlash over Orthodox Jewish storyline
NBC pulls Nurses episode from digital platforms after backlash over Orthodox Jewish storyline (Photo credit: Ken Woroner/eOne/NBC)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

An episode of Canadian medical drama <em>Nurses</em> has been pulled from NBC's digital platforms and future airings after facing a backlash for a storyline featuring an Orthodox Jewish patient.

In the episode, titled “Achilles Heel”, an Orthodox Jewish patient refuses a bone graft from a potentially “Arab” or female donor. The episode has faced significant pushback for its portrayal of religious Jewish culture.

“You want to put a dead leg inside of me?” the character, named Israel, asks the doctor. “A dead goyim leg – from anyone. An Arab, a woman,” his father replies.

“Or God forbid an Arab woman,” a nurse replies.

Israel refuses the bone graft, saying, “It’s God who heals what he creates.”

As many pointed out on social media, Orthodox Judaism does not specifically prohibit using a cadaver transplant in medical situations.

“The writers of this scene check all the boxes of ignorance and pernicious negative stereotypes, right down to the name of the patient, Israel – paiyous and all,” the Simon Wiesenthal Center said in a statement earlier on Wednesday (24 February).

“In one scene, NBC has insulted and demonized religious Jews and Judaism. Overreaction? Orthodox Jews are targeted for violent hate crimes – in the city of New York, Jews are number one target of hate crimes in US; this is no slip of the tongue. It was a vile, cheap attack masquerading as TV drama. What’s NBC going to do about it?”

An NBC source told Variety that the network had consulted with leading Jewish organisations in deciding to pull the episode from digital platforms.

Read More: Holocaust survivors honored with online event amid pandemic

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in