Andrew Deluca struggled a lot during his time on Grey’s Anatomy, but the Deluca death, as shocking and heartbreaking as it was, actually fixed the show’s mental health problem. Grey’s Anatomy follows the basic premise of medical dramas, focusing on the lives of surgical interns, residents, and attendings as they do their best to juggle their professional and personal lives, which often overlap. Grey’s Anatomy began its run in 2005 and shows no signs of stopping soon, with 19 seasons and counting. This is why it’s crucial to examine the show’s problems regarding mental health — and how Grey’s Anatomy fixed it.
At the center of this mental health issue in Grey’s Anatomy is Andrew Deluca (Giacomo Gianniotti). In fact, from his introduction and story arc to Deluca’s death in the show, the character is a microcosm of how Grey’s Anatomy’s storytelling has evolved over the latter seasons. Exploring what happened to Deluca and examining it in a bit more detail also reveals a lot about Grey’s Anatomy as a wider show and how its approach to mental health as a theme changed, which in turn explains why his death felt so poignant. Here’s how Deluca’s Grey’s Anatomy death paved the way for the show to solve one of its long-running problems.
How Did Deluca Die In Grey’s Anatomy?
It’s A Tragic Death
Grey’s Anatomy is led by Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), who started as an intern and became Head of General Surgery at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, and it’s through her that viewers meet a variety of characters: from patients, family members, and friends, to romantic partners. Falling into the latter category is Andrew Deluca, whose arc showed one of the series’ weaknesses. However, Deluca’s death fixed the problem. Deluca made his debut in the final few episodes of season 11, where on his way to Grey Sloan Hospital, he came across an accident and stopped to help, leading the rescue team to the hospital.
Deluca eventually becomes romantically involved with Meredith in season 15. However, Deluca struggled with his mental health, showing signs of mania like his father before him. Although he got help and received therapy, his mental health deteriorated in season 16, to the point where Dr. Bailey didn’t believe him when he expressed concern for a patient who was the victim of human trafficking. Exactly how did Deluca die? Deluca died in Grey’s Anatomy season 17 when he was stabbed as he investigated this human trafficking case, and he died at Grey Sloan Hospital. Deluca’s death in Grey’s Anatomy is relevant for several reasons.
How Deluca’s Death Fixed Grey’s Anatomy’s Mental Health Representation
The Show Didn’t Always Focus On Mental Health
Grey’s Anatomy presented Deluca’s mental health problems as manic, impulsive, and self-destructive behavior. Before Deluca’s death, his actions sometimes put him and others in danger, which is why he was often questioned by his colleagues, including Meredith and Carina. Deluca was sidelined under the “mental health issues” excuse in season 17, so the series could focus on giving Meredith a more “fitting” story with the then-current global situation: the coronavirus pandemic, with Meredith falling sick and fighting for her life. However, Grey’s Anatomy fixed its “Deluca issue” by having him die as a hero. His suspicions about human trafficking were correct.
Before Deluca’s death, he also successfully informed the police about the issue, and his stabbing led to the arrest of some of the traffickers. Deluca’s final actions showed he wasn’t defined by his mania and impulsive behavior, and that he will be remembered as a hero — not for being someone who struggled with his mental health. It went from his defining trait to a coincidental one in his wider story. Grey’s Anatomy isn’t a flawless TV show, and fans haven’t been shy when it comes to pointing out its weaknesses, such as the writers’ tendency to kill characters instead of giving them satisfying endings. They did it right with Deluca’s death.
Deluca Isn’t The Only Way Grey’s Anatomy Shattered Mental Health Stereotypes
Other Characters Played A Key Part
Deluca’s death in Grey’s Anatomy is one example of how the show tackles issues related to mental health. Dr. Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) also has mental health issues, particularly Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), while also dealing with racism, divorce, infant loss, sexism, and a history of emotional neglect. On Bailey’s journey to become Chief-of-Surgery, Grey’s Anatomy unravels an authentically complex story, centered around how ignoring such issues can create and exacerbate mental problems. Always ready to confront sexism in the workplace while grasping at work-life balance, Dr. Bailey shows how workplace dynamics, social politics, and mental health are inevitably intertwined.
Moreover, Dr. Richard Weber (James Pickens Jr.) and Dr. Bailey discuss how there are no quick fixes to mental health problems, and even confronts the fact that chronic conditions require permanent management. This is crucial because Weber ultimately encourages Bailey to fully accept herself, including her battle with OCD. This is consistent with how acceptance is the first real step towards healing, which Weber is familiar with due to his struggles with alcoholism.
In addition, Weber also helps demystify and counter the stigma against medical intervention for managing symptoms, as he tells Bailey that taking medication and accepting other forms of help are signs of strength rather than weakness. Through characters like Andrew Deluca, Miranda Bailey, and Richard Weber, it’s indeed fair to say that Grey’s Anatomy helped in shattering mental health stereotypes. Hopefully, this was helpful to audience members who, in one way or another, relate deeply to these engaging characters.