Blog Post #1 about Doctors in Popular Culture

 Hi all!

I watched the show The Good Doctor with my family this past year. Within the cast, there are ethnically, ideologically, and socially diverse characters that all contribute to the surgical team at St. Bonaventure Hospital in San Jose, California. 

The story follows Shaun Murphy who has Autism and Savant Syndrome. Shaun is inventive, and his novel and creative ideas are often heroic and life-saving. However, outside the context of his profession, his ideas can be socially unacceptable or inappropriate. In the first episode of the show, Shaun feels that it is an appropriate idea to steal a knife from airport security, albeit with good intentions(video is below). Eventually, he gets that knife and creates an incredible one-way valve apparatus which helps to stabilize the patient until they arrive at the hospital. Initially, he struggles to empathize with patients and their families, but he eventually gains some experience as the show progresses. His struggles with others can be explained by flashbacks which depict his troubled childhood. 

Dr. Glassman is the head of the hospital, and acts as almost the foster parent for Shaun. Glassman juxtaposes with Shaun in that he is much more compassionate and professional in his conduct. Just like all the other doctors though, he is incredibly brilliant. Glassman is able to communicate effectively with Shaun, and often deescalates situations where Shaun is being difficult. 

Dr. Andrews, on the other hand, is a more authoritative character who seems to be the "power-hungry" individual who wants to further his career. He bets with Glassman that if Shaun isn't perfect on the job, he gets to be head of the hospital. As the storyline progresses through the different seasons, however, Andrews seems to become a more humane character and one that the audience can start to like and even support. 

Video of Shaun stealing a knife from the airport security