For a medical drama that has been airing for the past 15 years, the details of all the patients in Grey's Anatomy might be hard for viewers to keep up with, especially those who've been glued from the beginning. As of December 3, 2020, there have been a total of 1359 patients on the show. The doctors have clearly had a lot to do.
On a couple of occasions, the doctors have found themselves requiring treatment too. And while the patients have been many, a few have stood out. These patients either had great stories or their actions were shocking. The following are the most memorable people to seek treatment, ranked by their ability to warm hearts.
Shane
It's hard to forget the paramedic Shane from Season 4. He's the least likable in this list for obvious reasons. Shane is injured when his partner has a seizure while driving and causes the ambulance to crash.
A Nazi sympathizer, Shane has a swastika tattoo across his chest. He insists that only a white doctor should treat him because he believes a doctor of any other race would despise him. Despite his hatred towards Bailey, she does a good job of keeping him alive. The experience with Shane also makes Bailey rethink her nickname—the Nazi.
Harper Avery
Jackson's grandfather Harper Avery commands a lot of respect in the Grey's Anatomy universe. Not only is he one of the greatest surgeons to ever live, but he is also the founder of the Harper Avery Foundation. The Harper Avery award for surgeons is even named after him. But the best doctors make the worst patients.
When Harper gets admitted after collapsing in a restaurant, his dictatorial side kicks in. He really tests the patience of the doctors by demanding to be kept awake during his surgery so that he can direct them on what to do.
Andrew Langston
What would you do for love? Andrew's answer is—a lot. The love-stricken man jumps into a vat of cement at a construction site in order to impress his girlfriend, Lola. He is rescued by firefighters and rushed to hospital while completely encased in cement.
As expected, the doctors have a lot of work on their hands. First, they struggle to remove the cement. Second, Andrew keeps flatlining. But fate is on his side, so he survives. What's even better is that Lola understands and gives him a post-surgery kiss. He gets negative points for his silly action though.
Susan Grey
The death of Meredith's step-mother is hard to take. From the moment she is introduced in the series, she tries her best to mend the relationship between the popular surgeon and her father Thatcher Grey.
In Season 3, she visits the hospital complaining of acid reflux and endless hiccups. The doctors figure there is nothing serious with her so they treat her and release her. Her condition gets worse, forcing her to come back. She is rushed into surgery but doesn't make it. Worse still, Meredith's father blames her for the death.
Cece Colvin
Season 15 begins with the case of Cece, a matchmaker with an impressive success rate of 85%. She loses consciousness while driving crashes her vehicle. In the process, she hits a pedestrian.
Cece feels that she doesn't deserve all the medical care she is being offered because she accidentally killed someone. This is despite the fact that the accident was caused by the side effects of previous medical procedures that she underwent. Overall, she remains a kind patient and offers to help Meredith find a soulmate.
Denny Duquette
Denny Duquette's heart might be weak, literally, but it's strong enough to love. From the moments she first interacts with Denny, Izzy falls for him. A new heart isn't available to Denny for a long time but he perseveres, thanks to his LVAD. His perseverance, as well as his love for Izzy makes him appealing to most fans.
When a new heart finally becomes available, Izzy cuts his LVAD to initiate a transplant. In the highly delicate moment, he decides to propose to her. Quite sweet! Sadly, Denny dies. He later appears to Izzy in dream sequences.
Mary Portman
Mary finds herself at the center of the hospital shooting involving Gary Clark. On the day of the shooting, she shows up with her husband to get a blood transfusion. Moments after she sends him to get a pizza, the shooting begins.
When Clark comes into the room she's hiding in, she manages to save herself by playing dead. The doctors hide but Clark locates Charles and shoots him in the abdomen. Soon after Clark leaves, Mary assists Bailey in trying to save Charles' life. She definitely earns herself plenty of points with the fans at that moment.
Henry Burton
Henry first comes to the hospital in Season 7 as a patient suffering from Von-Hippel-Lindau syndrome. He is badly in need of surgery but lacks the medical insurance needed to cover it. A sympathetic Teddy develops a liking towards him and suggests that they get married so that he can use her insurance.
Henry is against the idea at first but he eventually agrees. Teddy starts spending time with Henry frequently as she narrates her bad dates to him. As time passes, they fall in love with each other. In Season 8, they become a real couple. Sadly, Henry dies while being operated on by Cristina.
Nick Marsh
Nick—the surgeon from Mayo Clinic—is the only man Meredith has had a genuine connection with since Derek's death. When he comes to Grey Sloan Memorial to retrieve a kidney for one of his patients, he collapses. It turns out he had a kidney transplant but the kidney is failing. Luckily, Meredith uses her skills to save his kidney.
During the time that he's a patient at the hospital, he and Meredith effortlessly bond over topics that include their children, their careers, and life in general. Nick can't stop flirting with Meredith too. Sadly, just as viewers are hoping for a full-blown romance, he leaves. Hopefully, he'll show up again.
Zola
It's impossible to find something to hate about Zola. She is the reason why Meredith and Derek get married. Zola is a six-month-old baby when she is brought to the hospital from Malawi, thanks to Alex Karev's Africa Project.
It's revealed that she was born with spina bifida. First, she undergoes brain surgery before having a second surgery for her hernia. Zola is such an adorable baby that both Derek and Meredith agree to adopt her. While filling out the paperwork, they realize only married couples are allowed to adopt. Without hesitation, they visit the courthouse and get married.