Best Doctor Characters in Cinema - Movies and Actors That Won Our Hearts (The 'Meddys' Film Awards)

We all love watching movies, don't we? We've all seen movies that make us laugh, cry, and think about life. Among these, movies about doctors, nurses, hospitals, and various diseases have a special place. Sometimes when we watch these characters, we think, "Is this really what a doctor is like?" "Is this what a nurse's life is like?" So, to find out what are the best movies and performances made about this medical field, two international medical websites, WebMD and Medscape, held a little competition. That's why they're called 'Meddys'. Readers had chosen more than 250 of their favorite movies and characters. So let's see who won these awards?

Winners who won the hearts of readers

Here are the films and performances that have won awards in various categories. Each of these works has not only made a mark in the history of cinema, but also influenced the way society views medicine .

Best Medical Film: One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

This film won with 42% of the audience votes. The story is very simple. A criminal named Randle McMurphy pretends to be mentally ill to escape prison. He is admitted to a mental hospital. The hospital is run by a very strict and strict nurse named Nurse Ratched. This film shows how a sane person can be mentally broken by subjecting them to the hospital's rules and regulations.

This film sparked a huge debate around the world about the state of mental health institutions at the time and the rights of patients. That's the most important thing about this.

Best Doctor: Robin Williams (Awakenings)

This is not really surprising. It's not for nothing that Robin Williams won this award with 55% of the vote. 'Awakenings' is a film based on the life story of a real doctor named Oliver Sacks. In it, Robin Williams plays a neurologist who administers an experimental drug to a group of patients who have been unable to speak or move for years and are unresponsive (catatonic).

His performance was so excellent that renowned film critic Roger Ebert said at the time, "This is one of Robin Williams' best performances. It's a very clean, character-driven performance, without any unnecessary jokes." This character shows how important a doctor's knowledge is, as well as his kindness , patience, and dedication to his patient.

Best Nurse (and Scariest Nurse): Louise Fletcher (One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest)

Here's the problem. Although this award is for "Best Nurse," this character is not a role model for anyone. Nurse Ratched, played by Louise Fletcher, is a cold, emotionless, and controlling person. Her performance is so powerful that the American Film Institute has named her the 5th most dangerous villain in film history.

Her character teaches us how important human qualities are in healthcare, not just being bound by laws and regulations.

Best Patient: Tom Hanks (Philadelphia)

This is truly a historical drama. In the early 1990s, people were scared when they heard the word HIV / AIDS . Those who contracted the disease were ostracized from society. In such a time, Tom Hanks plays a brilliant lawyer who hides his HIV infection.

This film was very important for several reasons.

• It was a big deal for Tom Hanks, one of the most popular actors at the time, to take on a role like this.
• This film sent the message to society that people living with HIV/AIDS are normal people just like us and should be treated with respect.
• It showed the world how unfair it is to marginalize someone and fire them from their job because of an illness.

It is because of creations like this that the fear, myths, and stigma surrounding conditions like HIV have decreased in society today.