How real is real?

24 hours in A&E, ER, One born every minute, Keeping Britain Alive, House MD, Greys Anatomy, Junior Doctors and the list goes ON.

Reality TV or drama, are they altering our view on the healthcare system (in the UK and/or America).

I was asked my view by a family friend on the lifestyles of doctors the other day. I replied by explaining the pros (rewarding, mentally stimulating, FUN) and cons (stressful, LONG hours) and how I thought that it was mainly a give and take relationship. The more you put in, the more you get out.

They replied by asking me: 'Did you watch Junior Doctors?'
Ahh the beauty of reality TV. I had watched the show and did enjoy it. It showed lives of junior doctors and all the ups and downs they had encountered during their placements. We both discussed the show in terms of how real it was and how much of it was just used for entertainment and spoke about how sometimes we'd almost have to remind ourselves to separate the 'real' from the real life. From this conversation it really became plain to both of us how much these type of shows could influence people's perceptions of the NHS.

We then moved on to the topic of shows such as Grey's Anatomy and House (my personal favourites). The medicine is a lot more realistic than shows such as Holby city, however the diagnostic procedures we come across in House, and the constant attraction Seattle grace hospital has to crazy catastrophes was definitely not so realistic.

The glamorous portrayals of their lifestyles definitely seems attractive however unlike the 'reality TV shows' we most definitely didn't feel the need to remind ourselves that this was just entertainment. 

So, what do you think?
How real is real?