The Best Medical Dramas of All Time: A Prescription for Binge-Watching
"Your presence is required in the emergency room, stat." That urgent summons resonates deeply with viewers, a call that echoes through the annals of television history. From the gritty realism of overflowing emergency rooms to the quirky charm of small-town doctors, medical dramas have consistently captivated audiences, offering a potent cocktail of suspense, human connection, and the ever-present drama of life and death.
The 2024-25 TV season witnessed a notable resurgence of the genre. Shows like "The Pitt" on Max and "Pulse" on Netflix arrived on the scene, filling our screens with dedicated doctors and nurses battling to save lives amidst a backdrop of compelling personal narratives. If you’ve already devoured all fifteen episodes of "The Pitt," one of the year’s biggest word-of-mouth hits, and your appetite for medical emergencies remains unsated, then look no further. This curated list presents the 15 best medical series of all time, guaranteed to keep you hooked and perhaps, in some way, even heal a part of you.
Many of the shows featured here aren’t just remarkable medical dramas; they stand tall as titans of television, period.
- Chicago Med (NBC, 2015-Present)
While "Chicago Med" might not crack the list of all-time best TV shows, it undeniably earns its spot as a consistently engaging and reliably dramatic medical procedural. Produced by Dick Wolf, the series delivers week after week with a blend of compelling cases, lightly humorous interactions, and addictive storytelling. There’s no pretense of reinventing the genre here. Instead, "Chicago Med" embraces the core elements: good-looking doctors saving good-looking lives. It’s not a guilty pleasure so much as an easily pleasing one.
Streaming on Peacock. Season 10 airs on NBC (Wednesdays, 8 ET/PT); Season 11 is due this fall.
- Diagnosis: Murder (CBS, 1993-2001)
A delightful and somewhat unusual blend of detective work and medical expertise, "Diagnosis: Murder" was anchored by the ever-charming Dick Van Dyke as Dr. Mark Sloan, a former Army physician who consults with the local police department on complex murder cases. Often, he assists his son, Steve, a detective played by Van Dyke’s real-life son, Barry Van Dyke. If a medical drama could ever be described as "cozy," this would be it. The mysteries are engaging, the characters are endearing, and the overall tone is lighthearted and comforting.
Stream on Pluto TV.
- Northern Exposure (CBS, 1990-95)
The trope of the big-city doctor transplanted to a quaint, small town and undergoing a personal transformation is a recurring and beloved one in the medical genre. Series like WB’s "Everwood," CW’s "Hart of Dixie," and even Netflix’s tear-jerker "Virgin River" have all explored this theme. However, the balance of schmaltz, humor, and genuine melodrama was never struck better than in "Northern Exposure." The show features Dr. Joel Fleischman, played by Rob Morrow, a quintessential New York snob, thrust into the most remote small town imaginable: Cicely, Alaska. This culture clash forms the bedrock of the series’ humor and heart. But "Northern Exposure" wasn’t solely about small-town jokes; it was a profound exploration of community building and human connection, all wrapped up in a warm, Alaskan parka.
Stream on Amazon Prime.
- Getting On (HBO, 2013-15)
If you’re aiming to create a show that tackles aging, caregiving, and the realities of death, enlisting actresses like Laurie Metcalf, Alex Borstein, Niecy Nash, and Mel Rodriguez is a stroke of genius. This underrated HBO black comedy, set in the geriatric recovery unit of a struggling California hospital, confronted the often-bleak aspects of medicine head-on and found ways to extract humor from even the darkest situations. The humor was cerebral, physical, cynical, and often gallows-esque, but always delivered with a heartfelt sincerity.
Stream on Max or Pluto TV.
- The Knick (Cinemax, 2014-15)
The hospital can be a place of profound horror, and few understand this better than director Steven Soderbergh, who directed, shot, and edited "The Knick." Set in 1900, a pivotal moment when medicine was transitioning from superstition to genuine science, the series follows Dr. John Thackery, portrayed by a stunning Clive Owen, as he pioneers surgical techniques. Gory and visceral (the bloodiest show on this list by far), "The Knick" is a deeply unsettling yet utterly captivating series that’s difficult to look away from. The medical procedures are unflinchingly realistic, the atmosphere is thick with tension, and the performances are uniformly excellent.
Stream on Max.
- This Is Going to Hurt (AMC, 2022)
While many medical shows are built on a foundation of hope and aspiration, this British series, set within the U.K.’s National Health Service, is rooted in abject despair. Stuck in a crumbling, underfunded, and underappreciated system, OBGYN Adam, played by Ben Whishaw, struggles to keep both the babies he delivers and their mothers alive, battling odds that seem stacked against him. In this modern healthcare portrayal, the doctors, the patients, and the entire healthcare system are all suffering. Based on the memoir of a real doctor, the stories and tribulations feel achingly authentic. Whishaw’s sly smile and tongue-in-cheek delivery prevent the depressing stories from becoming overwhelmingly morose.
Stream on Sling TV, Hoopla, Acorn TV, and AMC+.
- House (Fox, 2004-12)
What if Sherlock Holmes was a doctor? Elementary, my dear Dr. Cuddy. "House" thrived on this premise, with Hugh Laurie delivering a masterful performance as the prickly and enigmatic Dr. Gregory House, a diagnostic physician specializing in uncovering the most obscure and bizarre maladies plaguing his patients. Medical accuracy often took a backseat to dramatic storytelling, and the sarcasm was dialed up to eleven. Nevertheless, the series possessed an addictive quality, mirroring House’s own relationship with pain medication. "House" also deserves credit for launching the careers of Olivia Wilde and Kal Penn.
Stream on Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Peacock.
- Call the Midwife (PBS, 2012-Present)
Although it only occasionally ventures into a hospital setting, this British period drama, centered on nurse-midwives in mid-century London, captures the core elements that define a great medical series: bloody emergencies, crying patients and families, lovable characters, and satisfying conclusions, whether tragic or joyful. Set in an impoverished part of the city during the complex post-World War II era, "Call the Midwife" expands beyond healthcare, labor, and delivery to explore broader social issues, effectively becoming a social history of its time and place. Sentimental? Absolutely, but in the best possible way, tugging at our heartstrings with intention and grace.
Stream on Netflix; Season 14 airs on PBS Sundays (8 ET/PT) (check local listings)
- Nurse Jackie (Showtime, 2009-15)
A showcase for the always-impeccable Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie" presented a medical show with a sharp edge. Falco’s portrayal of Jackie Peyton, a drug-addicted nurse in a New York City hospital, was as complex and flawed as any of the antiheroes who dominated television during the 2000s. Emmy-winning and magnetic, Falco’s performance was the sun around which the series revolved, but it still left room for a great supporting cast, including the always-lovely Merritt Wever.
Streaming on Philo.
- St. Elsewhere (NBC, 1982-88)
"St. Elsewhere" was initially pitched as "Hill Street Blues" in a hospital, and it lived up to that billing. While it lightened up somewhat over its six seasons, compared to its crime-drama inspiration, it undoubtedly helped to reshape the medical genre. Fast-paced, unafraid to be sad, comedic, and weird all within the same episode, the series laid the groundwork for decades of medical shows that followed. Plus, it featured both a young Denzel Washington and Mark Harmon walking the halls of Boston’s fictional St. Eligius hospital. Not too shabby for a very shabby hospital.
Stream on Hulu.
- The Pitt (Max, 2025-Present)
It’s a bold move to place a relatively new series with only fifteen episodes so high on this list, but Max’s "real-time" emergency room drama is undeniably compelling. Each episode unfolds across one hour of a seemingly interminable ER shift in the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital, where doctors and nurses are struggling to "treat ’em and street ’em" due to the medical center’s overwhelming patient load and insufficient staffing. "The Pitt" is the first post-pandemic medical drama to truly grapple with the lasting impact of COVID-19 and the current political climate on healthcare workers. The series offers a raw and unflinching portrayal of the realities of modern healthcare, devoid of sugarcoating the burnout and financial strain plaguing the system. From "ER" producer John Wells and starring Noah Wyle, viewers expect nothing less than the smart, heart-stopping action and emotion that "The Pitt" delivers.
Stream on Max.
- Scrubs (NBC, 2001-08; ABC, 2009-10)
Doctors on social media often praise this sweet and surprisingly poignant sitcom as one of the most accurate medical shows around, both for its avoidance of absurd medical fantasies and for its authentic portrayal of the emotional journey of becoming a doctor. Starring Zach Braff, Donald Faison, and Sarah Chalke as young doctors who mature over the series’ long run, "Scrubs" delivered consistent humor and moments of genuine heartbreak. Just remember to disregard the final "Med School" ninth season.
Stream on Hulu and Peacock.
- Grey’s Anatomy (ABC, 2005–Present)
Don’t dismiss "Grey’s Anatomy" from afar. Yes, it’s renowned for its over-the-top tragedies, fluffy romances, and the liberal use of "Mc" before words like "dreamy" and "steamy," but "Grey’s" is far more than its two-decade reputation might suggest. What truly makes "Grey’s" work is its unapologetic embrace of soap-opera tropes and themes, never trying to be something it’s not. With dozens of regular cast members, intra-office romances that spark swooning, and more disasters than any series save for "9-1-1," "Grey’s" is fundamentally imbued with soul and daring. It endures because, after over 400 episodes, the energy and verve of its storytelling remain vibrant.
Stream on Netflix and Hulu. Season 21 airs on ABC, Thursdays (10 ET/PT), with Season 22 due this fall.
- M*A*S*H (CBS, 1972–83)
"M*A*S*H" was a multifaceted creation: an adaptation of the hit 1970 Robert Altman movie, a hilarious sitcom, a poignant drama about the toll of war, a cultural touchstone, and, undeniably, a medical show. The series’ ability to blend all these disparate elements into something coherent and transcendent was a stunning achievement. Set during the Korean War, the series about medics at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital premiered during the U.S.’s deep involvement in the Vietnam War and had profoundly important things to say about warfare, healing, and the enduring power of friendship. Its finale remains one of the most-watched television events of all time because it was one of the rare shows that could truly unite the nation.
Stream on Hulu.
- ER (NBC, 1994–2009)
Could there have been any other choice for the top spot? NBC’s long-running, always rousing, and often deeply powerful drama, set in a Chicago emergency room, is the medical drama against which all others have been and will be judged for decades to come (just ask "The Pitt"). "ER" nailed everything: the pace, the actors (Wyle, of course, but also George Clooney! Julianna Margulies! Maura Tierney!), the setting, the "patient of the week" format, the plot twists, and the captivating romantic pairings. The unrelenting crises in the emergency room were the engine that kept it running for 331 episodes. The characters could never stop, and neither could we.
Stream on Hulu and Max.
