NBC cancels Trauma

So it’s official. Trauma is no more. NBC has opted not to pick up the medical drama, but will air the 13 episodes originally ordered.

Opinions seem to vary on whether this was a welcome move or not. On the one hand, the constant nit-picking and fault-finding from some members of the EMS community must certainly have played a role in the cancellation. When actors have to do damage control interviews and apologetic press junkets to ease ruffled feathers, you know it can’t be a good sign. On the other hand, a whole group of enthusiasts defended the series as good old-fashioned entertainment that took no more creative license than most shows on television do – does anyone think for a minute that CSI units actually work in dimly lit, moody laboratories and drive around in Hummers? It seems that when it came to Trauma, you either hated it or you loved it, but either way, it’s gone.

So what will fill the vacuum left by Trauma’s departure? More of the same, tired old relationship-focused hospital dramas? Or will someone try again with a more realistic portrayal of EMS? And if someone does try again, will that show be dissected mercilessly into cancellation as well? Who knows. All we know for sure is that our profession is now out of the popular media spotlight once again – and whether that’s ultimately good or bad remains to be seen.