Life through a lens

Ami Nwosu explains how good intentions to film A week in the life of a medical student descended to reinforcing the same old clichés

I am the second year representative for medical students at Liverpool. I was called to faculty in January and as I sat down, I realised immediately that something was amiss. Firstly, the medical directors were smiling, and, secondly, I was the subject of their fascination. I wondered what I had done, or what was expected of me this time: "Ami, will you star in a promotional video called A week in the life of a medical student?" Momentarily stunned, I eventually agreed and was plunged into the alternative reality of television production.

I first met the production staff before Christmas. Not knowing what to expect, I went with an open mind. The film crew was nice enough, although I was struck by how dour everyone appeared to be. They all took themselves too seriously; the office was lifeless: nobody smiled, and no one appeared to enjoy their job. My occasional jokes were greeted with silence reminiscent of a funeral: I was uncomfortable, eager to leave, and grateful when the seven day schedule was eventually drawn up.

The video--a short educational piece for schools--was to attempt to reduce some of the hierarchical stigma attached to medicine, encouraging people to apply who would not usually consider the degree as an option. I was excited by the prospect and was keen to get in front of the lens. My enthusiasm mellowed, however, when I thought back to the less than appealing educational videos I watched at school; sources of entertainment and targets of abuse. In a twist of fate, I was now to be the star of such a video. Was this to be any different or was I to be the source of the humour, the victim of the abuse?

The video began well, although I was unimpressed with the film crew. Envisioning an army of cameras, directors, lighting, and sound people, I was a little surprised to discover that the entire crew consisted of two people: the director to operate the camera and another to do the lighting and sound. The camera crew filmed my problem based learning group and lecture. The accurate interpretation of my week ended there, and fabrication of events was soon to take over.

They filmed me on hospital attachment, even though I'd not been assigned to it yet. They filmed me assessing a patient; it was an embarrassingly false demonstration of clinical and communication skills. I recall the numerous times I cringed when I watched the footage that had just been shot, and wondered how the director could be happy with takes that categorically encapsulated an educational video nightmare.

My usually enjoyable general practitioner attachment was miraculously transformed into an unsettling occasion, when the patients who consented to be filmed began displaying bizarre extravagant personalities when describing minor ailments. The camera crew was naturally drawn in and laboured over stopping and starting the camera to obtain the best shots of me taking a blood pressure and the general practitioner nodding in acknowledgment.

A scene in the halls of residence was an interesting concept, because I no longer reside there. I was forced to use the room of a first year medic who had kindly agreed to let us in. I realised that A week in the life of a medical student was a set of preconceived ideas dreamt up by the director, which somewhat differed from reality. I also realised that filming was a long process: the seven day schedule was spiralling to seven weeks of retakes, cancellations, and a medical student harbouring growing cynicism.

None the less, the project finally ended leaving me to reflect. The reasons for the project were just, but the actual instigation may have done nothing more than reinforce stereotypes. The video, to some degree, enforces the cliché that medical education consists of nothing more than white coats, stethoscopes, and academia. The actual process of being a student is lost. I am not seen in the video to enjoy myself; it provides a rather gloomy impression of university life as a medical student.

My experience made me question documentaries and television programmes depicting medicine. To what extent do fiction and clichés interfere with reality?

In this respect I was saddened by the fabrication, for my original enthusiasm and excitement in entering the project was replaced by something much colder. This apparent A week in the life of a medical student was not my week; it was the week of a student they had created. It is he I represent in the video and not myself.

The video will be released later this year in the north west. Will I be the subject of fun and verbal abuse? Probably, but the laughter will be twice as loud: I will be laughing with them.

Ami Nwosu, second year medical student, University of Liverpool
Email: md0u0130@liverpool.ac.uk


studentBMJ 2002;10:215-258 July ISSN 0966-6494