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Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care
Published on: February 16, 2011
Bioethics and professionalism in popular television medical dramas
Matthew J Czarny1, Ruth R Faden, Jeremy Sugarman
1School of Medicine, JohnsHopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
Abstract:
Television medical dramas sometimes depict medical professionalism and bioethical issues, but their nature and extent are unclear. The authors systematically analysed the bioethical and professionalism content of one season each of Grey's Anatomy and House M.D., two of the most popular current television medical dramas. The results indicate that these programmes are rife with powerful portrayals of bioethical issues and egregious deviations from the norms of professionalism and contain exemplary depictions of professionalism to a much lesser degree.
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