Medical dramas have long captivated television audiences, offering a mix of high-stakes emergencies, emotional storylines, and insights into the challenges faced by healthcare professionals. One show that has recently garnered attention not just for its entertainment value but also for its educational impact is the HBO Max series, "The Pitt." According to a recent report from the USC Norman Lear Center, "The Pitt" has influenced the way viewers understand critical healthcare issues, including organ donation and end-of-life planning.
This blog explores how the series accomplishes this, the responses from both viewers and medical professionals, and what it means for the future of healthcare education through popular media.
"The Pitt" returned to HBO Max for its second season on Thursday, January 8, 2026. The show is praised for its dedication to portraying medical situations with authenticity, offering a realistic view of life inside a trauma center. Researchers at the USC Norman Lear Center highlighted the importance of this accuracy in a media landscape often dominated by misinformation.
Kate Langrall Folb, director of Hollywood, Health & Society, a program at the Lear Center, emphasized that accurate depictions in media can shape how audiences perceive healthcare decisions long after the show ends. She stated, "Television has the power to affect audiences and the way they see the world around them."
To measure the show’s effect, researchers conducted interviews with 25 medical professionals and surveyed over 1,400 HBO Max viewers. Most of the medical professionals had hands-on experience in emergency rooms, while roughly half of the viewers had watched at least three episodes of the series.
The study focused on two main storylines: one concerning organ donation after a teen’s fatal overdose and another involving a senior patient’s end-of-life planning. These narratives offered viewers both emotional depth and practical knowledge about complex healthcare decisions.
In the first storyline, parents of a 19-year-old patient face the difficult decision of donating their son’s organs after he is declared brain dead from a fentanyl overdose. The show presents the process with sensitivity, culminating in an emotional "honor walk," where friends and ER staff line the hall to pay respect to the teen and his parents’ decision.
The impact on viewers was significant. Nearly 27 percent of those who watched this storyline sought information about organ donation, and 17 percent shared information about the process on social media. These figures suggest that "The Pitt" is not only raising awareness but also encouraging audiences to take action, whether by learning more or spreading knowledge within their networks.
The second storyline centers on a senior patient whose adult children initially do not follow his do-not-intubate order, part of his advance directive. This refusal causes visible suffering for the patient, ultimately leading the family to respect his wishes and discontinue life support.
This episode had a profound educational impact. About 39 percent of viewers sought information on end-of-life planning after watching, and 15 percent shared relevant information with friends or family. Compared to non-viewers, those who watched these storylines showed more positive attitudes and a higher likelihood of discussing healthcare preferences with loved ones.
Overall, almost 90 percent of viewers agreed that "The Pitt" successfully educates while entertaining. Many appreciated the relatable depiction of stress faced by healthcare providers, helping them understand the high-pressure environment of emergency rooms. By blending medical facts with compelling storytelling, the show manages to capture attention without sacrificing accuracy.
These findings underscore the potential of media to inform public health decisions, particularly in areas often misunderstood or avoided, such as organ donation and end-of-life planning.
Medical professionals also responded positively to "The Pitt." Many reported feeling validated, with the show reflecting the realities of their daily work, including overcrowding, underfunding, and administrative pressures. Some even reported recognizing rare medical conditions, such as methemoglobinemia or measles, after seeing similar cases portrayed on the show.
Dr. Joe Sachs, co-executive producer and writer, highlighted that emergency room personnel also found the show helpful in recognizing post-traumatic stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing pressures in emergency medicine. As a result, some professionals sought mental health support, inspired by the narratives presented in the series.
While the show was praised for realism, medical experts remained skeptical about its potential to drive systemic change in the U.S. healthcare system, which is often criticized for being profit-driven. The Lear Center report noted that although "The Pitt" shines a light on healthcare challenges, translating public awareness into policy change remains a complex issue.
Nonetheless, the second season aims to expand its research collaborations, consulting more than 30 experts across multiple healthcare topics, which could further enhance the show’s educational value.
The success of "The Pitt" highlights the broader role that accurate medical dramas can play in public education. Erica Rosenthal, director of research at the Norman Lear Center, emphasized that there is no tradeoff between commercial success and accuracy. When medical dramas embrace real-life complexities, they can engage large audiences while empowering both viewers and healthcare professionals.
The show’s popularity, including a major sweep at the Primetime Emmy Awards, underscores that audiences respond positively to realistic portrayals of healthcare challenges. By combining entertainment and education, "The Pitt" sets a benchmark for socially responsible media.
Storytelling has the power to transform abstract or challenging topics into relatable experiences. In the case of "The Pitt," viewers were exposed to ethically complex situations in a way that was both emotionally engaging and informative.
These narrative strategies demonstrate that entertainment can drive meaningful learning outcomes without feeling like a formal lecture.
The findings from the Lear Center study have implications beyond television. Public health campaigns can leverage similar storytelling techniques to increase awareness, educate the public, and influence behavior. Key takeaways include:
"The Pitt" demonstrates that television can be more than entertainment. By offering realistic portrayals of emergency medicine, organ donation, and end-of-life decision-making, the show educates viewers, validates medical professionals, and sparks meaningful dialogue.
The research suggests that well-crafted medical dramas can influence public attitudes, promote informed decision-making, and encourage conversations about important healthcare topics. While systemic change in healthcare requires policy reform, media like "The Pitt" plays a crucial role in raising awareness and empowering both viewers and professionals.
As the series continues with its second season, it is expected to further enhance its educational impact through expanded expert consultation and storylines that tackle additional healthcare challenges. For audiences, "The Pitt" is a reminder that entertainment and learning can go hand in hand, creating lasting awareness of life-and-death decisions.
This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual healthcare decisions should always be made in consultation with a qualified medical professional. Statistical data mentioned in this article represent general trends and may not apply to individual circumstances.
