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Chicago Hope

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 14, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 14.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    It's no ER, but doc drama still entertains.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–18

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Most of the characters are humanly flawed and struggle through difficulties in their personal as well as professional lives. Some are far more upstanding than others (one is a recovering gambling addict; a few often joke at their patients' expense). Emotionally charged issues like racism, sexism, and medical ethics are explored as part of the show's drama. The multicultural cast includes African-American and Asian-American characters and some strong female characters.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Surgical scenes and injuries related to shootings, stabbings, and vehicle wrecks can be bloody, but cameras usually pan past them rather than linger for long.

  • Sex:

    Some bedroom scenes show couples kissing and rolling around under the sheets, but there's no nudity beyond a shirtless man. In the hospital, issues sometimes touch on sex-related matters (sexuality, harassment, teen pregnancy, etc.).

  • Language:

    Words like "hell," "ass," "bitch," and "damn" are common.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Adult characters occasionally smoke or drink, but there's often a repercussion (a DUI charge, lung cancer) for their actions.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Chicago Hope

Parents need to know that this medical drama has mature themes, strong language, and sometimes-graphic footage. The hospital setting means that death and terminal illness are commonplace, and life-threatening injuries from (among other things) shootings and stabbings are shown -- though usually quickly and from a distance. Content often delves into the characters' love affairs, emotional instability, and addictions. Some doctors come across as insensitive when they're out of patients' earshot (making bets on when one will die, for instance). Racism, sexism, homosexuality, and medical ethics are all dealt with.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the enduring popularity of medical dramas. What's the appeal? Do you think real-life hospitals and doctors deal with this level of trauma and drama on a regular basis? How are today's medical dramas similar to and different from this one? Families can also discuss emotional hardships. What challenges do the characters on the show have to cope with? How do they respond? Who did they turn to for support or guidance? What are some of the most difficult situations you've been through? Did you face it alone? How did you respond? Families can also identify the ethical questions raised in each episode and discuss their feelings about them. Did you agree with how the characters resolved their quandary? How would you have handled it?
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