The Best TV Medical Dramas of All Time

The longest-running primetime medical drama on TV deserves a spot at the top of the list. Since it began with a group of surgical interns in 2005, we’ve grown alongside this group of beloved surgeons as they’ve risen to the top of their industries, battling floods, fires, drownings, crashes involving planes, trains, and automobiles, a pandemic, a shooting and more, believe it or not. Throughout its nearly 20-year run, fans have felt these fictional losses as if they were happening in real life, and I’d like to think we’re all a little stronger for it.

Created by Jurassic Park writer Michael Crichton, this show centered around a Chicago emergency room had a riveting premise and setting, and ER delivered for 15 seasons. Across its 331 episodes, the characters and situations developed a following because it felt more realistic than other popular shows at the time. Plus, it’s credited with propelling none other than George Clooney to fame, and we'll always be grateful for that.

Finally, we were introduced to a touch of humor alongside our medical drama. Scrubs features the dynamic duo of John "JD" Dorian (Zach Braff) and Christopher Turk (Donald Faison) who had viewers in stitches at home while patients received stitches on screen. For all the silly characters and funny gags the show provided, it had an equal amount of feel-good plot lines that kept its viewers loyal for eight seasons.

This iconic drama debuted in 1972, following the members of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (hence, MASH) during the Korean War. A pioneer in television at the time, the show blended a touch of humor and history alongside its drama, moving deftly between silly hijinks and sobering wartime situations. Set during the Korean War, MASH provided commentary on the effects of the Vietnam War, which was still ongoing upon its premiere. While it ended in 1983, its impact lives on with old and new fans thanks to its resurrection on streaming.

One of the newest medical dramas to capture audiences is The Good Doctor, an adaptation of the South Korean series of the same name, which adds a layer of intrigue due to its star character, Surgical resident Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore), having autism and savant syndrome. Dr. Murphy has a nearly photographic memory and strong intellect but struggles to communicate with his patients and colleagues. This innovative approach sheds light on life with neurological differences, while also creating characters that serve as heroic role models.

The runtime on General Hospital, the longest-running daytime soap opera still in production, spans a total of six decades (and counting). Since its premiere in 1963, the soap has racked up 14 Daytime Emmy Awards across its 61 seasons and whopping 15,000 episodes. While many of the dramas on this list are lauded for their (relative) believability, General Hospital has to keep the storylines wild to keep loyal viewers on the hook. Think aliens, vampires, serial killers, hostage situations, world domination, and a touch of medicine.

Hugh Laurie dominates in this medical drama about a cynical genius with a slight opioid addiction who heads the diagnostic medicine department of a New Jersey hospital. Dr. Greg House was inspired by Sherlock Holmes, with the show becoming somewhat of a medical whodunnit — with our cast attempting to diagnose seemingly “undiagnosable” ailments in an investigative way. In 2008, House was the most-watched TV show in the world.

Bringing the focus back to the emergency department, Chicago Med is part of a sprawling cinematic universe with Chicago Fire and Chicago PD (and temporarily, Chicago Justice), having characters weave in and out of each other’s storylines. This creates a dynamic approach to every show and adds plenty of drama and intrigue. The tension of the ER department setting along with the personal lives of the doctors and nurses we get to know in Gaffney Chicago Medical Center is a great combo you'll want to keep tuning into.