The Assassination of James Garfield: A Tale of Medical Malpractice and Tragedy
Imagine a presidency cut short by an assassin's bullet, followed by a medical crisis so catastrophic that it led to the president's demise. This is the shocking true story behind Netflix's new drama series "Death By Lightning", which brings to life the tragic tale of 20th US President James Garfield.
Garfield was no ordinary president. Born in a log cabin in Ohio, he rose from poverty to become one of America's most accomplished politicians. Despite facing intense pressure and criticism, Garfield remained true to his values of equality for African Americans, civil rights, and public service.
However, it was not the assassin's bullet that ultimately took Garfield's life, but rather a preventable medical mistake. On July 2, 1881, Charles Guiteau, a deranged and delusional man, shot Garfield twice in the back while he walked through a Baltimore & Potomac Railroad station.
The aftermath of the shooting was chaotic, with doctors administering substandard care that exacerbated the wound. Dr. Willard Bliss, who took charge of Garfield's medical treatment, repeatedly probed the wound without proper sterilization, introducing massive infection and sepsis.
As the nation watched in horror, Garfield's condition rapidly deteriorated. He lost nearly a hundred pounds, became severely dehydrated, and was left with deep wounds that could not be properly treated. The medical community was unprepared for such a catastrophic failure of care, leaving many to wonder how this tragedy could have been prevented.
The aftermath of Garfield's death was marked by widespread outrage and calls for reform. His successor, President Chester Arthur, surprised many by becoming an unlikely champion of civil service reform, signing the Pendleton Act in 1883.
Despite his tragic end, Garfield's legacy lives on. He remains one of America's most overlooked presidents, whose commitment to equality, civil rights, and public service would have altered the nation's trajectory had he lived. "Death By Lightning" offers a powerful reminder that even the most high-profile leaders can fall victim to preventable mistakes and tragedy.
The Netflix series is not simply a retelling of historical events but an exploration of what might have been if Garfield had lived to see his term through. The show's creator, writer, and executive producer Mike Makowsky has said he aimed to stay true to Garfield's character while taking creative liberties to tell the story anew.
As the series' release signals, it is time to remember James Garfield and the tragedy that befell him. His life and death serve as a cautionary tale about the importance of good medical care and the devastating consequences of negligence and hubris. "Death By Lightning" is a powerful reminder of the fragility of life and the enduring impact of even the most tragic events on our nation's history.
Imagine a presidency cut short by an assassin's bullet, followed by a medical crisis so catastrophic that it led to the president's demise. This is the shocking true story behind Netflix's new drama series "Death By Lightning", which brings to life the tragic tale of 20th US President James Garfield.
Garfield was no ordinary president. Born in a log cabin in Ohio, he rose from poverty to become one of America's most accomplished politicians. Despite facing intense pressure and criticism, Garfield remained true to his values of equality for African Americans, civil rights, and public service.
However, it was not the assassin's bullet that ultimately took Garfield's life, but rather a preventable medical mistake. On July 2, 1881, Charles Guiteau, a deranged and delusional man, shot Garfield twice in the back while he walked through a Baltimore & Potomac Railroad station.
The aftermath of the shooting was chaotic, with doctors administering substandard care that exacerbated the wound. Dr. Willard Bliss, who took charge of Garfield's medical treatment, repeatedly probed the wound without proper sterilization, introducing massive infection and sepsis.
As the nation watched in horror, Garfield's condition rapidly deteriorated. He lost nearly a hundred pounds, became severely dehydrated, and was left with deep wounds that could not be properly treated. The medical community was unprepared for such a catastrophic failure of care, leaving many to wonder how this tragedy could have been prevented.
The aftermath of Garfield's death was marked by widespread outrage and calls for reform. His successor, President Chester Arthur, surprised many by becoming an unlikely champion of civil service reform, signing the Pendleton Act in 1883.
Despite his tragic end, Garfield's legacy lives on. He remains one of America's most overlooked presidents, whose commitment to equality, civil rights, and public service would have altered the nation's trajectory had he lived. "Death By Lightning" offers a powerful reminder that even the most high-profile leaders can fall victim to preventable mistakes and tragedy.
The Netflix series is not simply a retelling of historical events but an exploration of what might have been if Garfield had lived to see his term through. The show's creator, writer, and executive producer Mike Makowsky has said he aimed to stay true to Garfield's character while taking creative liberties to tell the story anew.
As the series' release signals, it is time to remember James Garfield and the tragedy that befell him. His life and death serve as a cautionary tale about the importance of good medical care and the devastating consequences of negligence and hubris. "Death By Lightning" is a powerful reminder of the fragility of life and the enduring impact of even the most tragic events on our nation's history.
come on guys, 1881 was like forever ago, can't we just get over it already? i mean, garfield died from a gunshot wound but also because of some dude's stupid medical decisions lol what's the point of watching this show if you're not gonna get all salty about how incompetent doctors were back then 
. And I love how the show is taking creative liberties to explore what might've been if he'd lived - it sounds like it's gonna be super thought-provoking and emotional 
. One thing that's got me thinking, though, is how this tragedy highlights the importance of medical reform and accountability 
. It's crazy to think about how far we've come in terms of medical care since then, but there's still so much work to be done 
. Can't wait to binge-watch it and see what they do with the story 
.
The fact that James Garfield died from a medical mistake 
is just so wild 
! Like, what kinda care woulda lead to his demise? 
Doctors adminstering substandard care was a huge no-no 
. And the infection 
was massive 
. It's crazy how many people were gonna be affected by this 
. We gotta remember his legacy 
and how it coulda changed America's trajectory 
. Chester Arthur was a total hero for signing that Pendleton Act 
. It's all so tragic 
.
and see Garfield's story come to life 
And the fact that his medical team didn't know better is just crazy talk!!! 
The Pendleton Act tho... what a hero for Chester Arthur! 
. i'm also intrigued by how the show will explore what might have been if garfield had lived... like would he've made some major changes? 
dr willard bliss is literally the embodiment of everything wrong with medicine in the 1800s 
the show "death by lightning" is like such a powerful reminder of how fragile life is and how important good medicine is 
. and the pendleton act? yeah, good on chester arthur for steppin up like that 
it's crazy how medical malpractice can be so devastating sometimes 
It's crazy how that kind of negligence can lead to such catastrophic consequences.
. And wasn't he supposed to get treatment from Dr. Joseph Kinyoun instead of Dr. Willard Bliss? 
I'd love to see some fact-checking on that part 
. It's also weird that the show makes Garfield seem so... likable and relatable 
, considering how troubled Guiteau was before shooting him 
. Still, I'm curious to see how "Death By Lightning" tackles these themes and what new insights it brings to this lesser-known chapter in American history