At first glance, Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) doesn’t fit the traditional image of a doctor who effortlessly builds rapport with patients. As a surgical resident with autism and savant syndrome, Shaun often struggles with social cues, small talk, and conventional expressions of empathy. Yet, paradoxically, what makes him different is also what allows him to connect with patients in a way that sets him apart from his colleagues. Nowhere is this clearer than in his interactions with children and vulnerable patients, where his honesty, observation, and sincerity create bonds that words alone cannot.
Connecting with Children
One of Shaun’s most distinctive strengths is his ability to connect with children. While adult patients may expect small talk or reassurance, children respond more directly to honesty and simplicity. Shaun’s straightforward nature often resonates with them in ways his colleagues’ polished bedside manners do not.
For example, instead of talking around a painful procedure, Shaun explains exactly what will happen in terms the child can understand. He does not dismiss their fear but acknowledges it while focusing on the facts. Children, who often see through patronizing tones, find comfort in Shaun’s truthfulness. His observational skills also allow him to notice small details about their behavior—subtle signs of pain, discomfort, or fear—that others might overlook.
This creates a unique form of connection: he doesn’t overwhelm children with emotional displays but instead meets them where they are, on their level, with honesty and respect.
Honesty as Compassion
In many moments throughout The Good Doctor, Shaun demonstrates that compassion is not always about saying the “right” thing but about meaning what you say. Families often struggle with uncertainty, desperate for clarity from doctors. While others might hesitate to deliver bad news directly, Shaun’s candid approach provides patients and families with the information they need to make decisions.
To some, this bluntness might feel jarring. Yet, over time, families come to appreciate that Shaun does not hide the truth. His words may lack polish, but they are never false. In the most critical of times, that honesty becomes its own form of kindness. It says: I respect you enough to tell you the truth, even when it’s hard.
The Power of Observation
Beyond honesty, Shaun’s empathy also comes through his extraordinary observational skills. His savant abilities allow him to notice subtle physical or emotional cues that others miss. This gives him a unique window into what patients are experiencing, often before they can even articulate it themselves.
For instance, he might observe a child’s posture, breathing pattern, or a fleeting expression that reveals discomfort or distress. These insights allow him to address concerns proactively, often easing pain or anxiety in ways that traditional communication cannot. Families are often amazed by how deeply Shaun seems to “see” their loved ones—not through emotional intuition, but through careful, almost scientific observation that still carries a profound sense of care.
Setting Himself Apart from Colleagues
What makes Shaun’s empathy remarkable is how it contrasts with his colleagues’. Other doctors may excel at bedside manner, but sometimes they soften the truth too much or focus on comfort over clarity. Shaun, by contrast, prioritizes honesty and precision. While this approach can create tension among his peers, patients and families often recognize its value.
His ability to form connections without relying on traditional social tools highlights an important truth: empathy is not one-size-fits-all. It can come in many forms—through words, through actions, through presence. Shaun’s version of empathy may look different, but it is no less powerful.
Winning the Trust of Families
Trust is the cornerstone of medicine. Patients place their lives in doctors’ hands, and families must believe that every decision is being made with their loved one’s best interests at heart. Despite his unconventional style, Shaun often wins families over because they sense his sincerity. He does not posture, exaggerate, or sugarcoat. He tells them the truth, and then he does everything in his power to save the patient.
Families recognize that beneath his bluntness lies a deep compassion—a determination to treat each patient as a human being, not just a case file. Over time, this trust becomes one of Shaun’s greatest strengths as a doctor. Through Shaun’s empathy, The Good Doctor challenges audiences to rethink their assumptions about what compassion looks like. It suggests that empathy is not about fitting a mold but about genuinely caring in whatever way one can. Shaun does not force himself to perform socially inauthentic gestures. Instead, he expresses care in the ways that come naturally to him—through honesty, focus, and attentiveness.
This broader message resonates with anyone who has ever felt different, awkward, or misunderstood. It reminds us that our ways of showing care are valid, even if they don’t match the norm.
