Yellowstone (S3, Ep.5) reveals, finally, the tension between Beth and Jamie. In flashback, a sixteen-year-old Beth, pregnant with Rip's child, approaches an 18- or 19-year-old Jamie for help. She needs an abortion. Likely for good reason, neither feels free to inform John Dutton, (and Rip's tenure on the show would not have lasted long).
Jamie understands the threat of scandal likely to accompany Beth's visit to the local Livingston hospital so, with limited options, he takes Beth to the reservation clinic. There, he learns that Native American abortions carry mandatory sterilizations. Torn, yet cornered, Jamie leads Beth inside.
Several issues, here. First, the show presents Beth as an unknowing participant in the procedure but, almost certainly, the clinician-in-charge would have alerted Beth to the full process, including ramifications, so to gain her informed consent; and, this, even more so given Beth's non-Native status and the clinicians residing, there, on planet Earth with the rest of the county who, undoubtedly, had heard of the Dutton Ranch and family.
Secondly, while the show conveniently neglects to mention it, almost certainly the Duttons have a family doctor--some General Practitioner who makes house calls (and has done so for years) to patch up the kids and sip rye whiskey with John. The richest family for miles, without question, the Duttons would have a Doc and he would constitute Jamie's first call.
Thirdly, the practice of Native American sterilizations ended in the Seventies, long before Beth would have sought an abortion at a reservation clinic.
Finally, and most importantly, Beth's sterilization followed one of two courses: tubal ligation ("tubes tied") or hysterectomy (uterine removal). A hysterectomy is major surgery, requires hospital admission and a lengthy stay (two to three days). No way a surgeon proceeds on a minor without her father's consent, (her only surviving parent). Thus, only one rational means of Beth's sterilization remains: tubal ligation. Beth had her tubes tied. Thing is, reversal procedures on tubal ligation have a 50% to 80% success rate, which sets Beth's future pregnancy chances, at least, at even money. Now, Yellowstone may reveal that Beth has undergone a failed reversal procedure but given its possibility, the likelihood of Beth's informed consent (back when) and young Jamie's lack of options, Beth's abiding hatred of Jamie feels misplaced.
I understand that "Yellowstone" wants to carry forward the plot point of "Beth's hate and Jamie's fear," but the writers needed better homework, here. (Plot Point: 3 stars).
Jamie understands the threat of scandal likely to accompany Beth's visit to the local Livingston hospital so, with limited options, he takes Beth to the reservation clinic. There, he learns that Native American abortions carry mandatory sterilizations. Torn, yet cornered, Jamie leads Beth inside.
Several issues, here. First, the show presents Beth as an unknowing participant in the procedure but, almost certainly, the clinician-in-charge would have alerted Beth to the full process, including ramifications, so to gain her informed consent; and, this, even more so given Beth's non-Native status and the clinicians residing, there, on planet Earth with the rest of the county who, undoubtedly, had heard of the Dutton Ranch and family.
Secondly, while the show conveniently neglects to mention it, almost certainly the Duttons have a family doctor--some General Practitioner who makes house calls (and has done so for years) to patch up the kids and sip rye whiskey with John. The richest family for miles, without question, the Duttons would have a Doc and he would constitute Jamie's first call.
Thirdly, the practice of Native American sterilizations ended in the Seventies, long before Beth would have sought an abortion at a reservation clinic.
Finally, and most importantly, Beth's sterilization followed one of two courses: tubal ligation ("tubes tied") or hysterectomy (uterine removal). A hysterectomy is major surgery, requires hospital admission and a lengthy stay (two to three days). No way a surgeon proceeds on a minor without her father's consent, (her only surviving parent). Thus, only one rational means of Beth's sterilization remains: tubal ligation. Beth had her tubes tied. Thing is, reversal procedures on tubal ligation have a 50% to 80% success rate, which sets Beth's future pregnancy chances, at least, at even money. Now, Yellowstone may reveal that Beth has undergone a failed reversal procedure but given its possibility, the likelihood of Beth's informed consent (back when) and young Jamie's lack of options, Beth's abiding hatred of Jamie feels misplaced.
I understand that "Yellowstone" wants to carry forward the plot point of "Beth's hate and Jamie's fear," but the writers needed better homework, here. (Plot Point: 3 stars).
