Representations of Disabled Doctors in Television
Dublin Core
Title
Representations of Disabled Doctors in Television
Description
Television, being present in almost every home across the globe has immense potential to impact the way ideas are shared in the public imagination and how due to positive or negative representations, it can shape how the layman thinks about individuals having certain identities and the same goes for disabled doctors. Representations of doctors with disabilities on the small screen have been sparse and unidimensional and even though progress has been made, there is still a long way to do.
Collection Items
The first Disabled doctor on TV? Dr. Kerry Weaver on ER
Debuting on the medical drama “ER” in its second season in 1995, Dr Kerry Weaver was one of the first representations of disabled doctors on primetime television. Having a limp in her gait and using a forearm crutch, the character was played by a non…
Another Doctor with a Cane: Dr. Gregory House on House M.D.
In 2004, a new medical drama aired on Fox called House M.D. in which the titular character Dr. Gregory House, a disabled doctor, walking with the help of a cane and addicted to painkillers was an unconventional, misanthropic medical genius who led a…
The Good and the Bad of The Good Doctor - Dr. Shaun Murphy on The Good Doctor
The Good Doctor, first aired in 2017 and created by David Shore who interestingly also produced House M.D. follows a surgeon Dr Shaun Murphy who has autism and savant syndrome as he juggles his duties as a doctor and his personal life. Though a great…
Firstness comes full circle - Dr Laura Riley on Grey’s Anatomy
February 2020 saw for the first time the appearance of a deaf doctor on national TV in the form of Dr. Laura Riley on the long-time running drama Grey’s Anatomy. Compared to Dr. Kerry Weaver several years ago, this representation is an authentic take…