Medical drama

A medical drama is a television program, in which events center upon a hospital, an ambulance staff, or any medical environment.

In the United States, most medical episodes are one hour long and set in a hospital. Most current medical Dramatic programming go beyond the events pertaining to the characters' jobs and portray some aspects of their personal lives. A typical medical drama might have a storyline in which two doctors fall in love.

Communications theorist Marshall McLuhan, in his 1964 work on the nature of media, predicted a big success of this particular genre on TV, because such medium "creates an obsession with bodily welfare".

History

Dr. Kildare, which first aired in 1961, is generally considered to be the first medical drama. The BBC series Dr. Finlay's Casebook (1962–1971) is an early example of another common variant of the genre in which a medical practice is used as a focus for stories detailing the life of a (usually small) community. The long running Australian series A Country Practice (1981–1993) is a later example of this sub-genre. From 1969 to 1976, the series Marcus Welby, M.D. and Medical Center were extremely popular for their both orthodox and unorthodox way of presenting medical cases. In 1972, the first episode of M*A*S*H aired; the show's tone was generally comedic, but dark, poignant moments emanating from the death caused by war were not uncommon. This trend of comedy with undercurrents of darkness in medical TV shows can also be seen in Doogie Howser, M.D. and Scrubs, a current-day medical sitcom on NBC/ABC.

List of TV medical dramas

United States/Canada

• City Hospital (1951–1953)
• The Doctor (1952 TV series) (1952–1953)
• Medic (1954–1956)
• Dr. Kildare (1961–1966)
• Ben Casey (1961–1966)
• The Doctors (1963–1982)
• General Hospital (1963–present)
• The Nurses (1965–1967)
• Wojeck (1966–1968)
• Medical Center (1969–1976)
• Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969–1976)
• The Bold Ones: The New Doctors (1969–1973)
• Dr. Simon Locke (1971-1974)
• Temperatures Rising (1972–1974)
• Emergency! (1972–1979)
• M*A*S*H (1972–1983)
• Doctors' Hospital (1975–1976)
• Quincy, M.E. (1976–1983)
• Trapper John, M.D. (1979–1986)
• St. Elsewhere (1982–1988)
• Chicago Story (1982)
• China Beach (1988–1991)
• HeartBeat (1988—1989)
• Nightingales (1989)
• Island Son (1989—1990)
• Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989–1993)
• Northern Exposure (1990–1995)
• The Human Factor (1992)
• Going to Extremes (1992–1993)
• Diagnosis: Murder (1993–1996)
• Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993–1998)
• Side Effects (1994–1996)
• Chicago Hope (1994–2000)
• ER (1994–2009)
• Becker (1998–2004)
• L.A. Doctors (1998–1999)
• Bringing Out The Dead (1999)
• Providence (1999–2002)
• Third Watch (1999–2005)
• City of Angels (2000)
• Wonderland (2000)
• Gideon's Crossing (2000–2001)
• Strong Medicine (2000–2006)
• Crossing Jordan (2001–2007)
• Scrubs (2001–2010)
• Doc (2001–2004)
• MDs (2002)
• Presidio Med (2002–2003)
• Nip/Tuck (2003–2010)
• Dr. Vegas (2004)
• Medical Investigation (2004–2005)
• House, M.D. (2004–2012)
• Grey's Anatomy (2005–present)
• Inconceivable (2005)
• 3 lbs (2006)
• Saved (2006)
• Heartland (2007)
• General Hospital: Night Shift (2007–2008)
• Private Practice (2007–2013)
• Childrens Hospital (2008, 2010-present)
• In Treatment (2008-2010)
• The Listener (2009–present)
• Three Rivers (2009)
• Mental (2009)
• Royal Pains (2009–present)
• HawthoRNe (2009–2011)
• Nurse Jackie (2009–present)
• Trauma (2009–2010)
• Mercy (2009–2010)
• Miami Medical (2010)
• Off The Map (2011)
• Combat Hospital (2011)
• A Gifted Man (2011-2012)
• Body of Proof (2011-present)
• Hart of Dixie (2011-present)
• Saving Hope (2012)
• Emily Owens, M.D. (2012)
• The Mindy Project (2012)
• The Mob Doctor (2012)
• Do No Harm (2012)
• Monday Mornings (2013)

Mexico

• A Corazón Abierto (2011-2012)
• Rafaela (2011)

United Kingdom

• Emergency - Ward 10 (1957–1967)
• Police Surgeon (1960)
• Dr. Finlay's Casebook (1962–1971)
• Doctor in the House (1969–1970)
• The Doctors (1969–1971)
• General Hospital (1972–1979)
• Angels (1975–1983)
• The District Nurse (1984–1987)
• A Very Peculiar Practice(1986 – 1992)
• Casualty (1986–present)
• Children's Ward (1989–2000)
• Medics (1990–1995)
• Doctor Finlay (1993–1996)
• Peak Practice (1993–2002)
• Cardiac Arrest (1994–1996)
• Bramwell (1995)
• Silent Witness(1996-present)
• Holby City (1999–present)
• Doctors (2000–present)
• The Royal (2003–2011)
• Casualty@Holby City(2004)
• Bodies (2004–2006)
• Doc Martin (2004–present)
• Green Wing (2004–2007)
• No Angels (2004–2006)
• The Royal Today (2008)
• Crash (2009–present)
• Getting On (2009 TV series) (2009–present)
• The Indian Doctor (2010,2012)
• Monroe (TBD 2011)

Republic of Ireland

• The Clinic (2003–2009)
• Whistleblower (2008)

Australia/New Zealand

• Emergency (1959)
• The Young Doctors (Nine Network 1976–1983)
• A Country Practice (1981–1994)
• The Flying Doctors (1985–1991)
• G.P. (ABC 1989–1996)
• Children's Hospital
• Shortland Street (1992–present)
• Medivac (1996–1998)
• All Saints (1998–2009)
• MDA (2002–2003, 2005)
• The Surgeon (2005)
• Offspring (TV series) (2010–present)

Germany

• Die Schwarzwaldklinik (1985–1989)
• Praxis Bülowbogen (1987-1996)
• Hallo, Onkel Doc! (1994-2000)
• Dr. Stefan Frank – Der Arzt, dem die Frauen vertrauen (1995-2001)
• Doctor's Diary - Männer sind die beste Medizin (2007-2010)
• Doktor Martin

France

• Médecins de nuit (1978-1986)
• Janique Aimée'
• Petit docteur'
• Les pédiatres'

The Netherlands/Belgium

• Memorandum van een dokter (1963–1965)
• Medisch Centrum West (1988–1994)
• Spoed (2000–2008)
• Trauma 24/7 (2002–2003)
• IC (2002–2006)
• De co-assistent (2007–present)
• Dokter Deen (2012)
• Dokter Tinus (2012)

Czech Republic/Slovakia

• Nemocnice na kraji města (1977–1981)
• Ordinace v růžové zahradě (2005–present)
• Zázraky života (2010)
• Dr. Ludsky (2011)

Malaysia

• Ampang Medikal
• ''Cinta Medik
• "Medik TV"

Singapore

• First Touch
• Making Miracles
• A Child's Hope
• The Oath (TV series)

Philippines

• Habang May Buhay (2010)
• Altapresyon (2012)

Japan

• Black Jackブラック・ジャック(1973–2006)
• Kyumei Byoutou 24-ji (1999, 2001, 2005, 2009)
• Shiroi Kyotō (2003)
• Iryu: Team Medical Dragon (2006–07, 2010)
• Code Blue (2008, 2010)
• Team Batista no Eikō (2008)
• GodHand Teru (2009)
• Jin (2009, 2011)
• General Rouge no Gaisen (2010)
• Saijou-no-Meii (2011)
• Doctor X ~ Gekai Daimon Michiko (2012)

Hong Kong

• Heartstrings (1994)
• Healing Hands I II III (1998, 2000, 2005)
• Placebo Cure (2003)
• Asia Hero (2004)
• The Hippocratic Crush (2012)

Russia

• Interny (2010–present)

India

• Lifeline (1989)
• Sanjeevani (2002)
• Dhadkan (2004)
• Dill Mill Gaye (2007)
• Kuch Toh Log Kahenge (2011-present)

Israel

• BeTipul (2005–2008)

Italy

• La dottoressa Giò (1997–1998)
• Un medico in famiglia (1998–present)
• Medicina generale (2006–present)
• Terapia d'urgenza (2009)

Poland

• Doktor Ewa (1971)
• Układ krążenia (1977–1978)
• Na dobre i na złe (1999–present)
• Lekarze (2012-present)

Taiwan

• Tian Ya Gong Chi Shi
• The Hospital

South Korea

• General Hospital (1995)
• Medical Brothers (1997)
• Happy Together (1999)
• Hur Jun (1999)
• Medical Center (2000)
• Dae Jang Geum (2003)
• White Tower (2007)
• New Heart (2007)
• Surgeon Bong Dal Hee (2007)
• Before and After: Plastic Surgery Clinic (2008)
• General Hospital 2 (2008)
• Obstetrics and Gynecology Doctors (2009)
• Dr.Champ (2010)
• Brain (2011)
• Sign (2011)
• Syndrome (2012)
• Time Slip Dr. Jin (2012)
• Golden Time (2012)
• The 3rd Hospital (2012)
• Faith (2012)
• Horse Doctor (2012)

Spain

• Doctor Mateo (2009-2011)
• Hospital Central (2000–present)
• Médico de familia (1995-199?)

Turkey

• Doktorlar (2006-2011)
• Sen de Gitme (2011-2012)
• Merhaba Hayat (2012-2013)

Pakistan

• Dhoop Kinarey(PTV) (around 1980s)
• Emergency Ward(PTV) (around 1980s)
• Ambulance(Indus TV) ( 2005)
• Teray Pehlu May(Geo Ent) (2009–present)

Denmark

• Riget (1994–1997)

Brazil

• A Cura (2010)

Colombia

• A Corazón Abierto (Grey's Anatomy adaptation) (2010–present)

Peru

• Clave Uno: Médicos en alerta (2009–2010)

Argentina

• Locas de Amor (2004)

Greece

• Iatriko Aporrito (2009–2010)
• Kliniki Periptosi

Egypt

• Lahazat Harega (2007–present)

Saudi Arabia

• 37 dc (2009–2010)