Virgin River stars celebrating the end of season 5 filming

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Netflix drama Virgin River is no stranger to playing rather fast and loose with the realms of realism during its four-season run so far. From Charmaine’s (played by Lauren Hammersley) pregnancy, Mel’s (Alexandra Breckenridge) own baby journey, and aptly-timed heart attacks on helicopter rides, fans have time and time again questioned how certain storylines could actually happen. 

Another topic which often comes up for debate is the accuracy and legitimacy of the procedures and goings-on at Doc’s (Tim Matheson) practice.

Dr Cameron Hayek (Mark Ghanimé) arrived in season four to aid Mel and Doc at the practice as the veteran doctor and Virgin River stalwart toyed with the idea of retirement and declining health.

And Cameron’s had to face his fair share of medical emergencies in the Virgin River practice ever since.

Opening up about the role and when asked what preparation he did to take on a part in the medical field, Ghanimé has defended the show for any inaccuracies while explaining the lengths he went to ensure they didn’t deter from the drama.

“I’ve been thankful to have played a few doctors now in my career, I think like six,” Ghanimé began on the Chatting with B podcast.

He continued: “So all the training and learning all the technical words for all the drugs and procedures, all that just kind of piles on and you end up reusing certain terminology.

“So when I get a new script, I know exactly what that’s for, I know what that drug does and why I’m doing the paddles after I administer this. 

“So it all kind of built up in my career starting in 2012, I did a show with Mamie Gummer called Emily Owens (MD) and that was the first recurring role that I had as a doctor, I played an ER attendant. 

“And on that show just like in every show going forward, we have an advisor who is either a doctor or a nurse or a nurse practitioner who is available whenever we get the script to go through it and I’m able to speak to them and discuss things and figure what I’m doing and why I’m actually doing that particular procedure, it’s very helpful. 

“So yeah, I do have a lot of the jargon in my head, that’s the tougher stuff is sometimes saying it convincingly and to know what you’re talking about.

“You’re not just saying a drug name, you’re not just saying a procedure, you have to know why you’re saying it and so that was the challenge for me.

“I take it seriously, I don’t wanna look like an actor playing a doctor,” Ghanimé added before the fan who asked the question revealed they were an ER doctor.

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They then revealed how they grimaced when they watched Dr Cameron give sertraline to an infant during the latest season.

Defending the moment which was written into the script, Ghanimé delved into why certain inaccuracies may pop up on-screen.

“Some of the stuff… yes, there’s gonna be the purists out there that actually know what they’re talking about when they’re watching it and go, ‘That was wrong,’” the Virgin River star conceded.

“But we sometimes also have to do things for time and for camera placement and also to build a little bit of drama.

“If we were to do it all by the books, it would be a lot more calm, less panic, and a lot less swelling music. 

“So there’s a number of things that contribute to it. 

“The writers aren’t doctors either, the writers will write stuff and they’re not necessarily in that field so we have to find a happy balance,” he defended.

Virgin River seasons 1-4 are available to stream on Netflix now. 

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