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[Physicians in the TV soap--a study of ER]
Rune Nielsen1, Anders Baerheim
1Seksjon for allmennmedisin, Institutt for samfunnsmedisinske fag Universitet i Bergen, 5018 Bergen. rune.nielsen@med.uib.no
Summary
Medical soap operas, like Emergency Room (ER), shape public perception of healthcare by portraying physicians as relatable humans. This genre fulfills a desire for a more comprehensive and understandable health system.
Area of Science:
- Media Studies
- Literary Theory
- Narrative-Based Medicine
Background:
- Television significantly influences cultural perceptions and expectations.
- Health providers encounter diverse patient cultural expressions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the representation of the health system in medical soap operas.
- To understand how this genre shapes public expectations of healthcare.
Main Methods:
- Genre analysis incorporating media science, literary theory, and narrative-based medicine.
- Textual analysis of a single episode from the medical soap opera "Emergency Room" (ER).
Main Results:
- Medical soap operas feature strong narration, focus on physicians' professional and personal lives, and present a glamorized medical reality.
- The genre emphasizes physicians as archetypes and constructs narratives with clear causality.
- Soap operas satisfy a public desire for causality and wish fulfillment in daily life.
Conclusions:
- Medical soap operas present a more comprehensive view of the health system.
- The genre humanizes healthcare professionals, moving beyond the "white coat" stereotype.
- These programs fulfill a societal desire for relatable and understandable healthcare narratives.
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