Parents' Guide to

Dr. Death

By Martin Brown, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

True-crime medical drama features blood, gore, drugs.

TV Peacock Drama 2021
Dr. Death Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 17+

Based on 2 parent reviews

RhoadsGang
RhoadsGang Adult
August 5, 2021
age 17+

Nudity and sexual scenes not mentioned

There is a full frontal nude male scene pretty early on. There are several stripper scenes and sexual act scenes not mentioned in the original review.

This title has:

Too much sex
4 people found this helpful.
Bethany1202
Bethany1202 Parent of 7-year-old
November 17, 2022
age 16+

This title has:

Educational value
Too much sex
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Dr. Death dramatizes the true story of Christopher Duntsch, a neurosurgeon who left his patients worse off than they were before he operated on them. Within weeks of his arrival at Dallas Medical Center, Duntsch (Joshua Jackson) leaves one of his patients on life support and another unable to move one of her legs. As his co-workers begin to realize that there's more to his failed medical procedures than just mistakes, they also find that the Texas medical system is designed to protect him.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (3 ):

It's tough to turn a true-crime story into a compelling drama, but this series threads the needle by beginning with the crimes and working backward to discover why they happened. Digging into Christopher Duntsch's personal and professional life, Dr. Death paints a detailed portrait of a possible sociopath. Meanwhile, as it follows the doctors trying to stop Duntsch, it reveals a broken medical system that allowed him to thrive at his patients' expense. By pulling off the two intriguing storylines at once, the series manages to be both unique and relevant.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how doctors and other medical professionals are usually depicted on television. What characteristics do doctors on TV shows usually have? How does Dr. Death differ?

  • What clues does Dr. Death give to Duntsch's motivation? What do we learn about Duntsch's life outside the hospital? How do the dives into his past inform the storyline in the present?

  • Why is Duntsch's story called Dr. Death? What are some examples of his extreme behavior on the job? How does he treat his patients? How does he treat his peers and co-workers? How does Duntsch manage to perform so many bad surgeries? Who are the people who enable Duntsch's bad behavior?

TV Details

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