Surgery on the spectrum

If a doctor’s bedside manner is horrific, can he still help patients? How does a genius surgeon overcome bias against his autism? ABC’s The Good Doctor explores these questions, and millions are following along.

Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore), an intern with autism and savant syndrome, still has flashbacks about his troubled childhood: His father’s violent temper drove him and his brother from their home.

Two deaths impelled Shaun toward the medical profession. His father kills the family rabbit in a fit of rage, hurling the pet across the room. His younger brother dies after a fall while the two are at play: “He went to heaven in front of my eyes.”

Shaun’s simple hope is that as a doctor he can prevent deaths like these: “They should have become adults. They should have had children of their own and loved those children … and I want to make that possible for other people.”

Shaun’s awkward communication style embarrasses fellow doctors. He blurts out diagnoses without preamble or empathy, shocking his patients. But his genius of being able to visualize the inner workings of the body—beautifully shown in intricate graphics—is so quick and complete that it uncovers the real ailments of patients with precision and speed.

The central plotline of Shaun struggling to overcome biases is compelling viewing. Hospital president Aaron Glassman (Richard Schiff) gambles his own career that Shaun’s gifts will make up for his idiosyncrasies. Other surgeons are eager to see Shaun fail, hoping they will advance when the dominoes fall.

Special effects showing heart, lungs, veins, and arteries all working together testify to God’s amazing creative work, but the surgeries are quite graphic. This show is not for the squeamish.

Other storylines make troubling assumptions: Extramarital sex is the norm. “All guys watch porn.” An unborn baby is a “fetus,” and the child’s life is not important if it will likely have an abnormality.

The Good Doctor airs weekly on ABC.