Anatomy of Lies: Why did Grey’s Anatomy writer Elisabeth Finch fake her own cancer? Explained
Peacock’s new docuseries Anatomy of Lies is streaming now on the platform. The documentary explores the real-life story of television writer Elisabeth Finch, who was a part of the writing team on Shondaland's medical drama Grey's Anatomy.
Finch was revealed concocting a medical drama of her own, as she was caught lying about various ailments she supposedly had, including her claim that she had cancer. Anatomy of Lies explores why Finch might have done what she did through various interviews with the writer's colleagues and her ex-wife Jennifer Beyer.
Beyer revealed in the docuseries that Finch was used to grabbing attention, elaborating:
"It’s like other people are getting attention, so Finch is triggered. She needs the attention on her. She needs the care."
What is the story behind Elisabeth Finch in Anatomy of Lies?
Elisabeth Finch was a writer on Grey's Anatomy, whose story has been explored in the docuseries, Anatomy of Lies. She wrote many scripts for the medical drama, focusing on multiple illnesses and ailments. Finch informed her co-workers that she drew inspiration from her own life for the scripts, citing her battle with ailments of her own. One of these was her struggle with cancer, noted by many she worked with.
The writer even took many steps to mimic a cancer patient, pretending to be wrapped up in bandages and wearing a head scarf to conceal her supposed hair loss. She even took leaves for her chemotherapy appointments.
Finch also devised other lies, such as helping out after the devastating Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue shooting. Some of these stories are revealed by Finch’s ex-wife, Jennifer Beyer, in the documentary. The couple married in 2020, but separated the following year.
In May 2019, Finch got herself checked into a wellness facility for PTSD, where she met and married Beyer. Months after their wedding in 2020, Beyer started noticing troubling patterns in her wife's behaviours.
She realised that Finch would often come up with stories to draw attention to herself whenever she felt alone. Beyer also noticed inconsistencies in Finch’s stories, such as her statements about the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. Beyer reveals that Finch had taken a picture wearing a Halloween costume and partying on the same day.
Since Beyer is also a nurse, she started seeing medical gaps in Finch's stories. The writer did not have a port or a scar as evidence of her cancer treatment. As explored in Anatomy of Lies, this led Beyer to the realisation that her wife had been inventing lies to get where she was.
Beyer says she confronted Finch but was fed more lies until she unemotionally revealed the truth that all of it was a farce. Finch also admitted she did not go to the synagogue after the shooting when Beyer confronted her about it.
This led to their eventual split, with Beyer notifying Shonda Rhimes and her team about Finch. The writer had to resign from the series in 2022.
Also read: What is Anatomy of Lies all about? Release date, trailer, and more about the Grey's Anatomy documentary
Audiences can watch Anatomy of Lies streaming now on Peacock.
