Pulse focuses on the professional and personal battles of the doctors and staff at a Miami trauma center. With the recent premiere of the series, viewers are eager for answers to several burning questions. Some of the most discussed topics are what Xander did and why he left Kennedy in Pulse.
Here’s everything you need to know about the plot of the medical drama series Pulse.
What did Xander Phillips do at Kennedy in Netflix’s Pulse?
Xander Phillips accidentally killed a patient during a procedure at Kennedy in Netflix’s Pulse.
The last episode showed Xander recalling his time at Kennedy Hospital while treating a critical patient. In a flashback, his colleague warned him that Dr. Broussard was reprimanding doctors who were taking too long with discharges. As Broussard pressured Xander to hurry up, he advised his patient, Julio, and Julio’s mother that the fluid related to his liver problem needed to be removed at the GI clinic.
While the procedure was initially scheduled for the following week, Xander decided to move things along quickly due to Julio’s pain and Dr. Broussard’s warning. He opted to perform a paracentesis on the non-emergency patient. Additionally, Broussard advised him not to wait for the ultrasound machine and to proceed with the procedure. The surgery was completed, and Julio was sent home.
However, things took a terrifying turn when Julio collapsed and was rushed to the trauma center. Xander began performing chest compressions, but the patient died after bleeding out, caused by Xander accidentally cutting a vessel.
Why did Xander leave Kennedy in Pulse?
Xander had to leave Kennedy in Pulse after accidentally taking a patient’s life.
As mentioned above, Xander accidentally caused Julio’s death during a medical procedure at Kennedy. Though left in shock, his wealthy parents and Dr. Broussard worked to cover up the incident. They made him sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and arranged for his transfer to another hospital. Although Xander escaped official blame, he continued to carry the emotional weight of taking an innocent life.
Colin Woodell, who plays Xander, opened up on his character’s grief and preparation for his role. He told Tudum, “With that episode, you saw the personal investment that can sometimes happen with a patient — how hard you can take it if something were to happen to them, You’re more likely than not going to bury those feelings, right?”. Woodell further added, “Xander can get a change of scenery, move to a different hospital, and meet all new people. But that guilt is very real, and it manifests itself in lots of different ways.”
All the episodes of Pulse are streaming on Netflix.
