All in the Family

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What is Love and What is Sexual Assault?
By Moira McMahon, Researcher

In Episode 406, "All in the Family," Amelia and Addison realize that their patient, Georgie Schultz is pregnant. This would be good news except that Georgie has been in a coma-like state for the past two years.

At first, everyone's suspicion is that Georgie was sexually abused in the nursing home. Georgie can't consent to sex. She can't even speak, eat or go to the bathroom independently. This pregnancy looks like the result of a criminal assault.

Georgie's husband, Bob, has been devoted to her since the skiing accident that took her consciousness. He is with her everyday, believing that one day she will wake up and be the wife he loves.

Addison feels terrible that she must break the news to Bob that someone went into his wife's room and violated her. Unexpectedly, Bob is happy that his wife is pregnant. He reveals that he is the father of her baby.

Addison is horrified, but Sam and Sheldon are sympathetic. Bob's grieving and may be a little deluded. He doesn't see his wife as an invalid. He sees her as the woman he loves.

Sheldon does his best to help Bob accept reality and move on his life. But Bob can't hear him. He can't let go of his best friend.

Georgie's body isn't able to keep the pregnancy and she miscarries. Addison thinks the problem has resolved itself until she hears that Bob isn't going to give up trying to have a baby with his wife.

She calls the police and has Bob charged with sexual assault.

Bob only wanted to fulfill the hope of having a family. A hope he shared with his wife. We don't know if Georgie can, somehow, hear and respond to him. Is what Bob did assault or love?

Did Addison do the right thing by calling the police?

What would YOU do?