Let’s dive into how The Good Doctor has changed the way people — both inside and outside of hospitals — view the world of medicine.
Shaun Murphy, portrayed with breathtaking nuance by Freddie Highmore, is a young surgical resident with autism and savant syndrome. His approach to medicine is clinical, mathematical, but never cold. He’s constantly re-evaluating, re-thinking, re-checking — because, to him, every life is worth that extra moment of effort.
His character pushes back against outdated ideas of what makes a “good” doctor. He reminds the world that empathy doesn’t always look like a perfect bedside manner — sometimes, it looks like unshakable commitment to getting the diagnosis right.
One of the show’s greatest strengths is how it tackles ethical dilemmas. What do you do when a patient refuses treatment that could save their life? How do you balance honesty with hope? When should a surgeon step back due to personal bias?
These are real questions faced by real doctors every day. And The Good Doctor doesn’t offer easy answers. Instead, it presents complex scenarios, encouraging both its characters and its audience to wrestle with morality, policy, and human emotion.
Perhaps now more than ever — in a post-pandemic world — people are aware of how difficult and essential medical work is. The Good Doctor honors that reality. It shows doctors working late, making mistakes, burning out, grieving losses, and questioning their abilities.
But it also shows them triumphing. Healing. Learning. Supporting each other.
Fans of the show often report a newfound respect for their local hospitals, nurses, and emergency responders. They understand, even just a little bit better, what goes on behind the curtain — and how deeply personal every decision can be.
In interviews, Highmore has spoken at length about the responsibility he felt in portraying autism accurately and respectfully. He consulted with medical professionals, read academic studies, and collaborated with showrunner David Shore (also behind House) to ensure Shaun’s mannerisms, speech patterns, and emotional responses were as realistic as possible.
Highmore is not autistic himself, and he’s been vocal about the importance of involving the autistic community in shaping the show. His performance is not just acting — it’s advocacy.
One of the most beautiful side effects of The Good Doctor is how it’s inspired young viewers to pursue careers in healthcare. Some fans have written letters saying they applied to nursing school or pre-med programs after watching the show. Others say Shaun helped them realize their own potential, despite struggles with anxiety, learning differences, or self-doubt.
This is more than entertainment. It’s motivation.
Whether you’re a patient, a family member, or a practitioner, The Good Doctor offers something vital: perspective. It helps viewers understand how decisions are made, how hard it can be to separate emotion from action, and why medicine is as much art as science.
And in a world where healthcare systems can feel impersonal, a show like this reminds us: at the end of every stethoscope is a human being trying their best.
