By Roger Dobson, Abergavenny

Doctors are often portrayed in films as materialistic and arrogant, but some films could be a useful addition to the medical school curriculum, an analysis of 150 films shows. The report, in Archives of Disease in Childhood (2004;89:1084-8), says, "Materialism and a love of money have pervaded cinematic portrayals of doctors dating back to the 1920s, and continue to be prominent in recent movies."

It cites as an example the materialistic approach to medicine shown by Dr Jim Nookey, a character in Carry on Again Doctor (1969). The character sums up his philosophy by saying, "Specialise, that's what I'd like to do--specialise. The whole Harley Street bit with bags of lovely filthy rich women patients."

Compiled by Glenn Flores, a paediatrician at the Medical College of Wisconsin, the report looks at how doctors are portrayed and names the top 10 most useful films for medical education. The medical specialties most favoured by doctors in films are surgery (33%), psychiatry (26%), and family or general practice (18%). Paediatrics accounts for a modest 2%, and not all references to it are positive: "Paediatrics can't just dump their overload on us. Tell them to cut down on their lunchtime and tennis. Maybe they'll have more time to practise medicine" (Sunchaser, 1996).

TOHO/KOBAL

The report names the best medical film as Red Beard (1965), from Japan, in which an arrogant young man learns the true meaning of being a doctor from a mentor who cares for the poor. Runner-up was The Hospital (1971). The top 10 most useful films for medical education are headed by The Doctor (1991), which stars William Hurt as a "hotshot surgeon with a detached demeanour" who learns about empathy and compassion when he contracts cancer. In second place was Arrowsmith (1932), which "deftly explores a doctor's motivations and struggles with a clinical versus research career and is thus inspirational and enlightening for medical students." In third place was The Citadel (1938).

Best humorous films were M*A*S*H (1970), Body Parts (1991), and High Anxiety (1977). "Doctor movies continue to fascinate because they can be humorous, thought provoking, informative of the public's perception of doctors, and they never cease to entertain. Movie doctors provide insightful and realistic portraits of the challenges, rewards, and excitement of being a doctor," concludes the report.

Best portrayal of doctors in films

1. Red Beard (1965)
2. The Hospital (1971)
3. Article 99 (1991)
4. State of Emergency (1993)
5. Miss Evers' Boys (1997)
6. The Elephant Man (1980)
7. Panic in the Streets (1950)
8. Spellbound (1945)
9. Death and the Maiden (1994)
10. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)

Most useful films for medical education

1. The Doctor (1991)
2. Arrowsmith (1932)
3. The Citadel (1938)
4. Not as a Stranger (1955)
5. Pressure Point (1962)
6. Whose Life is it Anyway? (1981)
7. Miss Evers' Boys (1997)
8. The Interns (1962)
9. Critical Care (1997)
10. And the Band Played On (1993)

Compassion: Thy name is "Patch Adams"!! The article reminds me of the movie starring Robin Williams where the theme was inspired by a real life hero and dealt with medicine not just being the science of treating but of healing and bringing joy and laughter to people. The hindi movie "Munna Bhai MBBS"(studentbmj carried a review of the same) released last year is another one that makes the same point.

We as medics tend to forget the real purpose of our being in this profession as we get caught in schedules , shifts and moving from one 'bed' to the other in the wards. Such movies probably bring back the real perspective that we lose as we drown ourselves in the vast sea of knowledge, technology and competence. The loser there is the patient who is met with the cold and aloof attitude of the overworked doctor. Let this be a reminder to all of us that the real success of a doctor is not in the numbers he/she treats but in the amount of care or joy that is brought to the patient. As Patch Adams would probably say, "any place that serves breakfast in bed is not likely to be so bad".

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