Playing God

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Pete Wants to Help the Poor, But Home Surgery Goes Too Far!
By Moira McMahon, Researcher

In Episode 403, "Playing God," Pete's old friend, James 'Gibby' Gibson comes to town and they reminisce about the days they traveled all over the world saving people with whatever resources they had.

For Pete, his adventures led him back to Santa Monica, to Oceanside Wellness. But for Gibby, the adventure hasn't ended. He's still a maverick serving the people that don't receive good medical care. Except now, he's stateside where he's running a non-accredited home clinic. He doesn't meet regulations for a medical practice forcing him to work with whatever supplies he can get his hands on. When Pete sees everyone waiting for the care they need, Pete can't help but jump in

Pete feels good helping these people. But Violet isn't sure this is a good idea. It's risky and illegal.

Things go from Good Samaritan to scary bad when a gang-member shows up at Gibby's clinic with his girlfriend, who has been shot in a drive-by. Pete discovers gang members come to Gibby because they know it will be kept quiet. There will be no police report or arrest. For this silence they pay cash. It turns out that the money made from selling drugs and stealing pays for the care that Gibby gives to the poor people who can't pay. A modern day drug based Robin Hood.

The gang member's girlfriend is going to die if she does not get to a hospital. When Pete suggests this, the gang member pulls a gun on Pete. That's when Pete realizes he is way over his head. No matter what great times he and Gabby shared while working in Africa, he can't go along with his crusade here.

Pete is able to talk down the gang member and get his girlfriend the help she needs. Pete warns Gibby if he ever opens another home clinic, Pete will turn him into the police. Maybe the system isn't perfect, but compromising the safety of patients by ignoring the mandated safeguards and taking maters into your own hands isn't the answer.

There are millions of people in the US who don't have any insurance. Faced with a broken arm or an infection, any clinic is better than no clinic. Is Pete just taking away care from people who need it?

Did Pete do the right thing by closing Gibby's doors?

What would YOU do?