Netflix acquires controversial medical drama despite accuracy criticisms

Netflix has added The Resident to its roster, a medical drama that has faced criticism from healthcare professionals for its lack of accuracy.

The streaming service has acquired all six seasons of The Resident, which first aired on Fox in the US. The show, which ran from 2018 to 2023, was cancelled following a drop in ratings.

Set in the fictional Chastain Park Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, The Resident explores both the personal and professional lives of its staff, highlighting the bureaucratic challenges in the healthcare industry.

Matt Czuchry stars as the charming Dr Conrad Theodore Hawkins, with Emily VanCamp playing his love interest, nurse practitioner Nic Marie Nevin. The series has seen several changes since it began.

Originally, in August 2016, Showtime announced it was developing a new gritty medical drama called The City. However, this project was shelved, and in a surprising turn of events, Fox took over the concept from Showtime in the subsequent year, rebranding it as The Resident, reports the Mirror.

The show's initial concept was described as "A dark medical drama [that] centres around an idealistic young doctor who begins his first day of residency under the supervision of a senior resident who appears tough and brilliant, but turns out to be a cunning and deadly psychopath."

Some medics have expressed their disapproval of the medical drama, with critiques across various platforms slamming the show as "grossly unrealistic".

Medscape Med Students didn't hold back in their review, stating: "The Resident is not only poor entertainment; it harms the public by grossly misrepresenting core concepts of medicine."

Detailing the plot, the critique continues: "The series follows a young doctor in training, senior resident Conrad Hawkins (Matt Czuchry), as he battles the corrupt, profit-driven hospital system he is part of."

The review further criticises the show's portrayal of the medical profession: "We found the show's depiction of medicine to be unrecognizable. The Resident gives a 'false' account of medical education, skewers medical facts, and glorifies unprofessional and frankly illegal behaviours by a physician."

Despite the criticism, the series has earned several nominations, including Teen Choice nods for Breakout TV Show and Drama TV Show.

Evan Whittan was also recognised with a nomination for a Young Artist Award in 2019 for his performance as Henry Barnett, in the category of Guest Starring Young Actor.

Netflix has added the controversial series to its roster as of September 20, giving audiences the chance to form their own opinions on the show's 'melodrama and cliches'.