Contemporary medicine has been the subject of many televisions shows. Whether intensely dramatic or humorous and comical, each gives the public a small piece of the picture of American medicine today.
The relatively new phenomenon of releasing President George W. Bush's medical records to the public also serves the purpose of boosting his political image.
An ethical case concerns a 16-year-old girl suffering from systemic scleroderma with a poor prognosis and her father's cultural beliefs, which do not allow for discussions about end-of-life care.