Pushing the Limits

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When Violet Blurs the Line Between Personal And Professional, a Patient's Unborn Child is Caught in the Middle.
By Moira McMahon, Researcher

In Episode 304, Pushing the Limits, Violet treats Collette and Ty Huckaby after Collette survived a rape.

Since the crime took place, Ty hasn't been able to even look at Collette. Ty is angry, confused and can barely say the word "rape" out loud. Ty thinks if they don't talk about the rape then somehow it won't affect their future together.

Healing from any sexual crime takes a long time. Victims need understanding from their loved ones. And in Collette's case, she's going to need even more support, because she's pregnant. And the father isn't her husband; he's the man who raped her.

Collette must now decide if she's going to keep the child.

Violet's role is to counsel Collette so that she can come to her own decision. But this strikes so close to home that Violet can't keep her personal feelings from spilling over into her therapeutic advice. Violet tells Collette that if she keeps the child, she will relive her rape over and over. She terrifies Collette into deciding to abort her child.

Violet realizes she went to far and apologizes to the Huckabys. She tells them that they need to take time, together, in order to know what they really want. But can Violet ever take back what she said?

Violet does know what it's like to have a child that reminds you of a trauma. Should she have kept her knowledge to herself?

Wouldn't you want advice from a doctor that had been through the same experience as you?

Question for Discussion:

Was Violet helpful or hurtful when she warned Collette that if she bears her rapist's child, she will continually relive her trauma?