TV's popular hospital dramas are regularly addressing such important national health policy issues as patients' rights, managed care, the right to die, and racial disparities in health care, according to As Seen on TV: Health Policy Issues in TV's Medical Dramas, a new study of the 2000-2001 television season. At the same time, the study found that many of the most hotly debated national health policy issues such as prescription drug coverage for the elderly or coverage of the uninsured are not featured on these fictional shows.

The study was released at a forum in Washington, D.C. on July 16, 2002, entitled John Q Goes to Washington: Health Policy Issues in Popular Culture that explored the role of entertainment media in shaping public attitudes and priorities on health policy issues. Materials from the briefing, including links to the As Seen on TV report are below. 

 News Release: TV Medical Dramas Address Health Policy Issues, New Study Finds 

 Agenda 

 Biographies of Participants 

 As Seen on TV - Executive Summary 

 As Seen on TV - Report

 Response to the Movie, John Q - Survey Snapshot

 Response to the Movie, John Q - Toplines

 The Impact of TV s Health Content: A Case Study of ER Viewers - Survey Snapshot

 Underinsured in America: Is Health Coverage Adequate? - Fact Sheet 

 View webcast and transcript of this event