‘Grey’s Anatomy’: A little of that human touch

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Medical mistakes were all over last night’s “Grey’s Anatomy.” Izzie learned that incompetent intern Sadie, who’d previously diagnosed her with anemia, actually mixed up her blood samples with those of a clinic patient who appeared to be dying from cancer. Derek operated what seemed like at least 26 times on poor pregnant patient Jen, in an effort to reverse the complications that began when he inadvertently nicked her brain aneurysm last week. And Seattle Grace’s first female surgeon, Dr. Campbell (Faye Dunaway, in full melodramatic diva mode) botched a gallbladder surgery, much to the patient’s discomfort and Cristina’s obvious disgust. No wonder Seattle Grace has fallen to No. 12!

And no wonder emotions were running feverishly high. Derek had an unintentionally hilarious scalpel showdown with Addison -- “Put down the scalpel, Addison!” “You put down the scalpel!” -- when he refused to give up on Jen at the possible expense of her child. The baby lived, Jen died, prompting her devastated husband to tell Derek, “You’re a murderer!” Derek then turned around and took his frustrations out on Mark, who had the misfortune of choosing a really inopportune time to finally come clean about his relationship with Lexie. Their knock-down drag-out fight was both completely over the top and, I gotta say, kinda awesome. Then again, I am the girl who loves sitting close to the ice at hockey games just to get the full impact of players being slammed right up against the glass.

Some good did come out of all the mistake madness. Owen told Cristina he wanted to still be in her life 40 years from now. And Izzie got herself over to the dermatology department to get a suspicious spot on her back checked out. We won’t get her official diagnosis until at least March 12th, but as long as Denny stays MIA, I’m cool with the wait.

A couple of other developments worth noting: Callie worked up the courage to ask Arizona out on a date, then promptly got rejected for her relative inexperience with women. (As Arizona put it, “I spend all my time around newborns so I try not to in my personal life.” Snap!) And, in her quest to rack up a stack of glowing recommendation letters for the pediatric fellowship, Bailey unveiled some seriously fabulous new hair. Who knew she was such a whiz with a curling iron? Is there anything that woman can’t do -- apart from get a proper recommendation from the chief?

A few other questions to ponder: Do you think Derek’s meltdown will prompt him to reconsider proposing to Meredith? Will you miss Addison, who returned to L.A., all over again? And are Lexie and Mark finally winning you doubters over?

-- Shawna Malcom