Well, ‘Grey’s Anatomy‘ really opened a new door for viewers who were able to get a taste of a show exploring the medical genre while offering a gripping storyline. Clearly, its popularity made it obvious that people love to explore human anatomy, and this further

created many more medical shows. HBO Max also hosts several medical shows, most of which are reality shows with real doctors and patients. Here are the best shows on the streaming service that explore the medical premise-some fictional and others set in the real world.

18. Botched Bariatrics (2024- )

‘Botched Bariatrics’ follows the journey of people whose failed bariatric treatments have made their lives worse. However, without losing hope, they reach out to experts in the field-including bariatric surgeons and plastic surgeons-who try to rectify the wrongs performed in the previous surgeries and bring peace to the patients’ lives. From a woman with six belly buttons to a man with explosive bowels, the problems are complicated, and it is up to the surgeons to fix them. To find out how successful they are in the endeavor, you can stream ‘Botched Bariatrics’ here.

17. Take My Tumor (2024)

This graphic show follows renowned surgeons Kimberly Moore Dalal, Jason Cohen, and Ryan F. Osborne as they deal with the most challenging and extremely rare cases of life-threatening tumors. These range from every inch of the body to particular areas like the neck, face, stomach, and more. The series addresses the pain that the patients had to carry with them for so long, and the risk the doctors take to remove that pain without giving up so that their patients can have the opportunity to live healthy and happy lives. You can watch ‘Take My Tumor’ here.

16. Pets & Pickers (2022- )

Created by Tyson Hepburn, this docuseries follows a group of doctors and picking specialists who join forces to provide the best treatment to pets, even those whose owners cannot afford the treatment, at the Regional Animal Protection Society in Richmond, British Columbia. The doctors carry out the required treatment, and the hospital pays for it using two thrift stores that it owns. More money to pay for the surgeries is made by the picking specialists who search abandoned storage bins for valuables. If you are an animal lover, this medical show is bound to bring a smile to your face and a few tears to your eyes. ‘Pets & Pickers’ can be streamed here.

15. My Feet Are Killing Me (2020-)

As everyday stuff as it sounds, the words “My Feet Are Killing Me” can be a lot serious. And this reality show is a testament to that. We follow Dr. Brad Schaeffer, Dr. Ebonie Vincent, and Dr. Sarah Haller, who confront bizarre cases of foot issues in patients and deal with them. Drs. Schaeffer and Dr. Haller are based in New Jersey, while Dr. Vincent is based in Southern California. From foot fungus to different-sized feet to wart clusters to webbed toes to horned feet, the possibilities are numerous, which is why the viewers are warned as there are graphic scenes. The series has four seasons and can be streamed right here.

14. Bad Hair Day (2022-)

‘Bad Hair Day’ is a reality show that deals with hair, the problems regarding which a trio of hair restoration experts- Dr. Meena Singh, Dr. Angie Phipps, and Dr. Isha Lopez-come across. Along with the treatment, which is no less than a life-changing experience for the patients who have been dealing with the issue for a long time and is educative for the viewers, you also get to hear from the patients themselves about their emotional experience with such issues. You can see the series here.

13. Crack Addicts (2023-)

It’s certainly not what it sounds like. ‘Crack Addicts’ showcases the “stunts” pulled by Dr. Alessandra Colón and her staff to bring relief to their patients through sorting the nooks and crannies of their bodies via effective chiropractic methods. Patients arrive with painful physical conditions, and how the team provides the relief is satisfying not only for the patients but also for the viewers, not to mention the sound of the cracks, which are not cracks but bones being repositioned to their original state. You can view the show here.

12. Awake Surgery (2022- )

This 3-episode show follows cosmetic surgeon Dr. Meegan Gruber, who does her job on her awake patients. From removing man boobs to having butt lifts, Dr. Gruber has managed to develop her own techniques to numb her patients so they don’t feel anything when they are undergoing surgery. Her techniques are especially applicable to those who fear general anesthesia or don’t qualify for it. You can watch the show here.

11. Stuck (2022- )

That reality show is much like ‘This Came Out of Me’ and follows doctors and medical professionals who pry out foreign bodies from those of the patients. As normal as it sounds, the objects are more foreign than you might think. We also get to hear about how the patients came to be in that situation. The possibilities are many, from a sex toy in a rectum to a barbed nail in a forearm. If you want to witness them, you can see the show here.

10. This Came Out of Me (2022- )

As the title itself suggests, this docuseries offers a BTS look at how Dr. Ruby Rose and other talented physicians take on the Emergency Room problems of patients coming from everywhere in Texas. These include problems which range from extracting bugs from ears to draining an infection and many more gross complications that need to be very skillfully handled. You can see the 4 episode series here.

9. Save My Skin (2019-)

‘Save My Skin’ is a reality medical show that follows dermatologist Dr. Emma Craythorne and her team from the UK as they handle mild to extreme cases of skin conditions in their patients, some of which are even debilitating. These include bizarre cases that require anything from extractions to complex operations. From lipoma to pus-filled bumps to cysts to rosacea, the team has to deal with all sorts of cases and ensure that the patients can get back to a normal lifestyle. You can watch the series here.

8. Something’s Killing Me (2017–2019)

Hosted by BD Wong, ‘Something’s Killing Me’ is a docu-series showcasing unidentifiable symptoms and diseases that doctors and law enforcement find in victims who often end up fighting with death itself. The series goes deep into the issues with the help of re-enactments and interviews with doctors, patients, and their families, showing how the experts race against time to find out the root cause. You can watch the show here.

7. In Treatment (2008–2021)

Going from the body to the mind, ‘In Treatment’ focuses on psychotherapist Paul Weston, played by Gabriel Byrne, as he talks to his clients and takes us through a journey of exploring the human psyche and its complexities. A different client brings new issues each time, and once, it gets to Weston too, and he has to seek help from his therapist, Gina Toll, played by Dianne Wiest. How does that go? ‘In Treatment’ follows not only the clients but also their therapist to provide a better perspective on psychotherapy. Developed by Rodrigo García, the series is based on the Israeli series ‘BeTipul.’ You can see ‘In Treatment’ here.

6. Body Cam (2018- )

Created by Tom Keeling, ‘Body Cam’ is a thrilling docuseries showcasing the day-to-day dangers faced by law enforcement officers all across the country. Through the videos recorded by the body cam of the officers, we get firsthand experiences of high-stakes situations that can be potentially fatal for them. Complementing the videos are insights into the situations themselves. As difficult a pill it can be to swallow, in many of these cases, it’s no-holds-barred, and anything goes. You can watch the series here.

5. ER (1994-2009)

As the title suggests, ‘ER’ by Michael Crichton follows all the happenings inside an emergency room at the Cook County General Hospital in Chicago. The second longest primetime medical show after ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, this series stars Anthony Edwards, George Clooney, Sherry Stringfield, Noah Wyle, Eriq La Salle and Julianna Margulies. Spanning 15 seasons, it shows both the professional and the personal lives of the doctors as well as the patients, underscored by the urgency and the risks that exist in an ER. Needless to say, the depth to which the storylines go is insane, and this is one of the reasons why it has a huge fan following. You can watch the series here.

4. Getting On (2013–2015)

Love, care, compassion, loneliness, death, and all the other spices of life are thrown into a dark cauldron of hospice humor in this comedy drama. The events of ‘Getting On,’ adapted from the British show of the same name by Will Scheffer and Mark V. Olsen, take place in the Billy Barnes Extended Care Unit of Mt. Palms Hospital in Long Beach, California. It follows the daily lives of the doctors, nurses, and the other staff of the place as they attend to the needs and requirements of the elderly, especially the women, while coping with their own personal and professional issues. While for the patients, the place offers recovery, there’s a lot more going on in there, much to the hilarity of the viewers. Starring Alex Borstein, Niecy Nash, Laurie Metcalf, Mel Rodriguez, and Lindsey Kraft, ‘Getting On’ offers an entertaining watch. You can check out the show right here.

3. Autopsy: The Last Hours of… (2014- )

This intriguing medical series investigates the tragic mysterious/controversial/ sudden death of celebrities. With crucial evidence, the actual autopsies that were carried out, and interviews with the near and dear ones, this series offers a never-before-seen exploration into some of our favorite personalities, including Scott Weiland, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Brittany Murphy, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and Kurt Cobain. Currently, there are 13 seasons of the series. You can stream ‘Autopsy: The Last Hours of…’ here.

2. The Pitt (2025- )

How do you find a balance between saving people and losing them? R. Scott Gemmill’s series ‘The Pitt’ shows how the emergency department at the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital searches for the answer to that question. 15 hours, one shift, and a continuous flow of emergency cases; Senior doctor Michael “Robby” Rabinavitch has to tackle as many patients as possible, assisted by his teammates and some medical students who have come to learn the “art.” Gripping and true-to-form medical, ‘The Pitt’ hits the NOS straightaway, dropping us right in the middle of the medical chaos from the get-go, without any reaction time. Starring Noah Wyle, Tracy Ifeachor, Katherine LaNasa, Fiona Dourif, and Isa Briones, the series is the latest addition to HBO Max’s set of medical drama shows and a compelling one at that. It can be streamed here.

1. The Knick (2014–2015)

Created by Jack Amiel and Michael Begler, ‘The Knick’ is one of the best medical shows out there. Set in the early 20th century, the events of the show take place within the walls of the Knickerbocker Hospital, aka The Knick (fictional) in New York. Limited by the medicine and the technology of the time, the hospital staff, led by Dr. John Thackery (Clive Owen), have to provide their patients with the best treatment. There is also Dr. Algernon Edwards (André Holland), a Black American, who, despite being more qualified than his peers, has to face racism from the all-white staff and the society at large, as was prevalent during that time. How the Knickerbocker Hospital functions while coping with its own issues, as well as the societal ones, is what we see in this gripping medical drama. You can watch ‘The Knick’ right here. Read More: Best Holiday and Christmas Movies on HBO Max