The premiere episode of ABC’s Doctor Odyssey featured a series of bizarre injuries that included a broken penis, a waterslide mishap, and a person falling off a boat due to excessive arousal. These outrageous events can be traced back to the involvement of producer Ryan Murphy. The series stars Dr. Max Bankman, portrayed by Joshua Jackson, who finds himself aboard a luxury cruise ship treating patients, including Connecticut’s first diagnosed COVID-19 case.
One of the more outlandish medical cases involves Burt, played by Tom McGowan, who experiences iodine poisoning after overindulging in shrimp. According to the USDA, three ounces of cooked shrimp contain about 13 mcg of iodine, which means one would need to consume over 1,100 mcg to risk poisoning. This translates to eating more than 15 pounds of shrimp, a feat that would be extremely indulgent, especially for someone with a history of thyroid issues.
Dr. Todd McNiff, an internal medicine physician in New York, commented on the shrimp-related poisoning, suggesting it may be a fictional concept for the show. He explained that there isn’t a feasible amount of shrimp a person could consume to lead to acute iodine poisoning. Additionally, the term “seal disease,” allegedly referred to in the episode, is not recognized in medical literature, with Dr. McNiff stating he’s never encountered it in any context. It seems that the show has created its own unique universe filled with exaggerated medical scenarios, and this peculiar illness is just one of many affecting cruise guests in the inaugural season.