There are some truly awful doctors in the world of TV, film and literature. We’ve compiled a list of some of the worst offenders, and their rap sheets beggar belief (which makes sense, seeing as they’re fictional n’all). The least most of them are worthy of is a good, solid medical negligence compensation claim.
1. The Simpsons’s Dr. Nick Riviera (otherwise known as Dr Nick)
“Hi, everybody!”, “Hi, Dr. Nick!” Dr. Nick Riviera is the Simpsons’ recurring physician, and boy is he a bad one. Not only did he secure his medical training at “Hollywood Upstairs Medical College”, he has swindled, maimed, or given useless or dangerous medical advice to pretty much everyone in Springfield.
2. Dr. Hartman, Family Guy
Rather than being known for his medical prowess, Family Guy’s Dr. Hartman is probably most (in)famous for creating Ernie the Giant Chicken, the result of a scientific experiment gone wrong. Not someone you’d want to trust your health to.
3. Jam’s Unnamed Doctor
Up there with the weirdest fictional doctors, Jam’s doctor character is prone to blinding patients, taking sex line calls during consultations and diagnosing ’symptomless comas’ in children.
4. Arrested Development’s Dr. Fishman (AKA Dr. Wordsmith)
Known as Dr. Wordsmith for his unfortunate way of making dangerous and life-threatening illnesses sound relatively harmless, thus misleading worried family members, Dr. Fishman is definitely not someone you’d want caring for a loved one.
5. Doctor Who
Part of a lengthy tradition of doctors in TV and film who call themselves doctors when, really, they’re not. Stop time travelling and pay attention to your patients! (This is the point where a Doctor Who geek points out that he actually does have a medical degree). See also: Dr. Evil, Dr. Ross Geller
6. Seinfeld’s Dr. Tim Whatley
Actually a dentist, Dr. Whatley commits a string of offences, including converting to Judaism “for the jokes”, having Penthouse magazines in his waiting room and allegedly violating Jerry whilst under sedation.
7. The Island of Doctor Moreau’s Doctor Moreau
Assuming you’re after some dietary advice, help quitting smoking or help getting rid of that persistent itch on your inner calf, visit a real doctor and not one that’s most famous for combining human and animal DNA and creating an island of vicious man-beasts.
8. The Silence of the Lambs’s Dr. Hannibal Lecter
Cannibal, murderer, wine aficionado, Hannibal Lecter is all these things and more. He’s never been sued because he kills and eats his patients.
Had a run in with a negligent doctor? In real life, bad doctors are no joke. If you’ve had a run in with a negligent medical professional you might be able to claim medical negligence compensation