Is Malpractice Based on a True Story? Ending Explained
by Ushapriyanga
Updated Apr 25, 2023
Malpractice Wiki
The British TV series Malpractice, created by Grace Ofori-Attah, premiered on ITV1 and ITVX on April 23, 2023. The drama stars Niamh Algar as a doctor named Lucinda Edwards, who becomes involved in a medical scandal after a patient dies. As the show offers a realistic portrayal of an NHS A&E department, many viewers have questioned whether it is based on real events or inspired by true stories.
The next episode of Malpractice will be airing on ITV1 at 9pm on Sunday 30th April, with all episodes also available to stream on ITVX. The show follows the story of Dr. Lucinda Edwards, a highly regarded doctor whose actions are questioned after a patient dies from an opioid overdose. An investigation is launched into her behavior that night.
Is Malpractice Based on a True Story?
Although Malpractice is not based on any specific true story, its writer Grace Ofori-Attah drew inspiration from her own experiences as a former doctor. After a 15-year medical career, she turned to screenwrite and used her medical knowledge to create a fictionalized story that reflects real-life issues.
Ofori-Attah explained that medicine is a career full of stories, and her experiences in psychiatry made her realize the importance of understanding a patient's history and the relevance of their story to their treatment and outcome. While the show is set in an A&E department, it explores themes of mental health, addiction, and psychiatry that are relevant to wider society.
Malpractice Ending Explained
In the penultimate episode of Malpractice, Lucinda pretended to agree to Jubair's plan to prescribe drugs to addicts and recorded his conversation in an attempt to incriminate him. She gave the recording to George and Norma, who revealed that Rob had died from a drug overdose. Lucinda then approached Eva and urged her to come forward about Jubair's activities.
Eva explained that Rob used to prescribe opioids for his addict brother but became more lenient with his prescriptions, believing it was better than addicts using dangerous street drugs. Eva admitted to funneling patients to him at the rehab clinic and told Lucinda that addiction treatment in the UK is a revolving door.
She also revealed that Rob had been careful with his prescribing and that the recent overdoses suggested something was wrong. When Rob expressed his concerns to Jubair, he was threatened.
Lucinda visited Milo, a previous overdose patient, who revealed that he got his fentanyl patches from Wellspring pharmacy. She used Oscar's audit to check if the batch had been recalled and found that it hadn't, confirming her suspicions. She confronted Dr. Willett, accusing him of diverting waste drugs to sell to addicts. He accused her of being an addict and untrustworthy.
Later, Lucinda received a call from Camilla informing her that a friend had overdosed on the fentanyl she had prescribed. Rushing to help, she was ambushed by Jubair and two other men who injected her with a lethal dose of oxycodone. She was brought to the A&E department and saved by Ramya, who administered diazepam.
As Lucinda recovered in the hospital, George and Norma revealed that Eva had come forward with information about Jubair and his network. Eva also admitted to planting an incriminating prescription in Edith's flat.
Malpractice Plot
Dr. Lucinda Edwards, portrayed by Niamh Algar, is an experienced and intelligent doctor, but the show opens with her having a nightmare shift that ends in the death of a patient due to an opioid overdose. Despite the support of her supervisor, Dr. Leo Harris, played by James Purefoy, the father of the deceased patient demands an investigation into Lucinda's actions that night.
The investigation is led by Dr. Norma Callahan, portrayed by Helen Behan, and Lucinda's former colleague, Dr. George Adjei, portrayed by Jordan Kouamé. While George sees the tragedy as unavoidable, Norma begins to suspect Lucinda's behavior and decisions leading up to the patient's death.
As the investigation unfolds and pressure builds, Lucinda's relationship with her husband, Tom, played by Lorne MacFadyen, begins to deteriorate, and her composed professional demeanor begins to unravel. The show follows a thrilling cat-and-mouse storyline of the medical investigation and explores the story of a flawed doctor entangled in a dangerous conspiracy.
Malpractice Review
The TV series Malpractice offers a glimpse into the challenging world of modern medicine. Written by former NHS doctor Grace Ofori-Attah, the show follows Dr. Lucinda Edwards, played by Niamh Algar, whose otherwise unremarkable career is thrown off course when a patient dies in her care. The patient's father accuses Edwards of negligence, prompting an investigation that delves into her actions and past.
Ofori-Attah's script explores the complex shades of grey in medical practice, including the pressures faced by doctors and the consequences of human error. The circumstances leading up to the patient's death are complicated, with several factors contributing to the outcome. Edwards is faced with a busy shift, an absent consultant, and an inexperienced colleague when the patient arrives.
During treatment, Edwards leaves to attend to an emergency involving a gunshot victim, leaving the patient in the care of an inexperienced colleague. Before leaving, Edwards changes the patient's notes from "accidental overdose" to "deliberate", and provides instructions to her colleague without writing them down or fully verifying their understanding. The patient dies, prompting questions about who or what is to blame.
The drama raises important questions about the realities of human fallibility in healthcare, and whether we can accept a certain degree of error in a system run by ordinary people with exceptional skills. It also highlights the steep learning curve faced by doctors and the challenges of an overstretched healthcare system. As viewers, we are left to ponder the concept of best practice and how it applies to us all.
Is Malpractice Based on a True Story - FAQs
"Malpractice" is a TV show that tells the story of Dr. Lucinda Edwards, a smart and experienced doctor who is caught up in a dangerous conspiracy after the death of a patient in her care.
"Malpractice" stars Niamh Algar as Dr. Lucinda Edwards, James Purefoy as Dr. Leo Harris, Brian Bovell as Sir Anthony Owusu, and Helen Behan as Dr. Norma Callahan.
"Malpractice" is written by Grace Ofori-Attah, who spent 10 years as a doctor in the NHS.
"Malpractice" poses questions about the reality of human fallibility in the medical field, and whether or not we can tolerate a certain number of mistakes in a system run for and by ordinary people.
"Malpractice" is available to stream on the streaming platform Acorn TV.