Top medical experts keep TV straight

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Most prime-time TV dramas, even those that don't follow doctors, rely heavily on information from some of the top U.S. medical experts, a report says.

The Washington Post said many calls from television producers in Hollywood are fielded to Cue Miller at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Md.

Miller, a former television game show producer, told the Post he guides TV writers to find resources to help keep drama accurate.

Programs that use the help of facilities such as the NCI include "Grey's Anatomy," "ER," "House" and "Law & Order."

Other sources of information for TV writers include the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, or AHRQ, in Rockville, Md., and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

The Post reported that the relationship between TV writers and medical experts is symbiotic, with producers needing good storylines and medical experts there to validate that the information is intelligently publicized.

"We make sure the science is right," says AHRQ Director Carolyn Clancy.

Studies have shown that television viewers who watch dramas with medical themes report having learned from the programs, and many report a change in personal habits as a result.