An exploration of the stylistic, aesthetic and thematic impact of hospital drama. This book argues that 'new' medical dramas offer a different landscape from their predecessors, and they tend to disturb rather than reassure. The medical profession are often depicted as being forced to confront new management , ethical labyrinths, and noxious patients. The historical development of the 'new' medical drama is also explored, along with the implications of, and anxieties within, the depiction of modern healthcare. Lastly the book looks at the parallels between cultural fascination with the body as either sick or perfect and the attractions of a genre that seems to revel in the juxtaposition of morbidity and glamour.