Malpractice (2023) User Reviews

A tense, engaging drama.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 25 April 2023]

Doctor Lucinda Edwards faces a huge decision, whether to treat an overdose victim or a young gunshot victim, as she chooses the other is left to a Junior colleague, but dies, Lucinda is grilled.

I'll be honest, after recent medical drama Maternal, my expectation were quite low for this, but this was altogether a different kind of medical drama.

When you hear that The Line of Duty team are involved, you get an idea of what to expect, and despite essentially being a hospital set melodrama, the whole thing is full of tension, twists and turns and intrigue.

It's one of those shoes that's easy to binge watch, as there are several things going on. One thing you come to realise, is that Doctors do essentially have to make some pretty huge choices, I'm not saying it's always life or death, but their decisions do have consequences.

Each episode offers something, and leaves you with more questions, I liked that it was just five episodes long. This one is worth your time.

Very well produced, it looks great and moves by at a pace. Very well acted also, Niamh Algar is excellent as Lucinda, strong performances all round.

I thoroughly enjoyed it, 8/10.

Gripping in places but strains credibility overall

[paul2001sw-1 · 7/10 · 28 May 2023]

Medical drama 'Malpractice' has been put together by some of the same team that wored on 'Line of Duty', and it shows: it features a tricksy plot, sustained dramatic tension, and a lot of high-pressure interviews. But it's not quite as successful. While I don't know exactly how allegations of medical malpractice are actually conducted, I found the aggressivley confrontational approach shown here, with doctors treated as if they were criminal suspects, unconvincing. Moreover, there's a reason why so many dramas feature the police: even if a normal individual is caught up in some horrible plot, they don't investigate it themselves. And there's a level of coincidence that at times strains credibility that the story relies upon to repeatedly put its protagonist into the tightest of tight spots. It still has plenty of gripping moments, but as a whole it feels contrived. I still enjoyed it, and Niamh Algar is good as the central character, even if she can't entirely escape the limitations of the script.

Dramatic

[mail-87-756004 · 8/10 · 25 April 2023]

I enjoyed this and binged it over two evenings. Most of the cast, except Brian Bovell, are unknown to me. But all seem to me to be convincing.

Bit puzzled by the reviewer who asked ' where's the men'. Did this person watch a different programme? Let me see. The A&E consultant: a man. One out of the two investigators: male. One out of the two juniors: male (and not a nurse as erroneously mentioned. Strong hints that it's a 'women good, men bad' show. Apart form the husband who's not written as bad. The junior doctor, Oscar, not written as bad. The investigator Dr Adjei, again not written as bad. The barrister Sir Anthony Owusu, again, not an evil character at all. On the other hand, the 'strong female lead' character could be considered morally dubious at the very least. So matey your argument doesn't stand up. But I guess those who feel their tv shows should mainly feature straight white men of noble character then you might feel a bit miffed. Still I say the husband's a good'un.

One or two things I'd query. Bit surprised the police weren't involved a lot earlier on. And yes, how did the MIU people get hold of phone record?

Apart from that worth a watch if you like thrillers involving a big conspiracy going right to the top.

Starts well...

[pawebster · 6/10 · 25 April 2023]

It's a truism that it's easier to start an interesting story than it is to finish it. I found this one gripping in the first couple of episodes. By episode 3 I was looking up how many more episodes there were left to go.

The story and the predicament of the lead character got more and more fraught, but it might have been hurried along, in my opinion.

In episode 5, not surprisingly it all reaches a crescendo - but then rather lamely, too smoothly and quickly comes to the conclusion.

I think it's almost a rule now that TV drama serials have one or two episodes too many. I presume it's somehow cheaper to spin out one series out than to generate two.

There are some clichés, for example those TV drama disputes where characters have an argument lasting one minute, which ends when one of them simply leaves the room.

Wow, that was intensive

[Kukkahattuseta · 8/10 · 10 January 2024]

Have to say it was an intense drama or should I say thriller. I appreciated the fact that there were only five episodes. This way, the tension was maintained without unnecessary prolongation.

The series started as a normal hospital drama, but the tension intensified episode by episode. The series was surprisingly able to combine different genres and still be believable. There were, of course, a few little follies in the series and perhaps too many convenient coincidences. But still. I liked this series.

I also liked the way addictions were dealt with. In the end, it all culminated in Lucinda's addiction, even if it didn't seem like it at first. As the series progressed, the extent of her addiction only began to be revealed. I also liked the fact that there was no miracle cure at the end, but that it was shown what addiction really is. There was also a nice element of mystery in the series. In the end, however, the series was largely about addiction.

Cracking medical melodrama that's full of unexpected twists

[JRB-NorthernSoul · 7/10 · 24 April 2023]

Malpractice doesn't muck about it has an explosive opening that shows the pressure A&E departments and their staff live with. The writer Grace Ofori-Attah was herself a Doctor in the NHS for ten years and the world's she's created here felt totally authentic.

Some of the critics have christened it Call of Duty meets Casualty and that's not a put down. Its an investigative thriller and a very twisty one - far removed from the more earnest look at the NHS under the cosh seen in 'This Is Going to Hurt' on BBC1 last year.

Production values were good throughout with an excellent script and a strong cast. A big shout out to the lead Niamh Algar for another stellar performance (also brilliant in 'Deceit').

There are a few moments you may need to suspend belief (could someone she previously knew investigate her - no) - but with such a good story and cast I didn't mind.

Super

[SceneByScene · 29 January 2024]

Excellent miniseries. Well written. Paced to perfection. Intelligently shot.

It didn't drag on too long, nor was it truncated to too few episodes. The casting was superb. And the actors performed brilliantly.

The plot also dealt with a very topical issue: the problem of addiction to prescription - rather than street - drugs. And touched upon the stress of the recent COVID pandemic as well. A strong story that had me hooked through all 5 episodes. Yes, at times a few characters were over-scripted (namely the duo on the internal investigation panel), which was grating, but this can be forgiven considering the quality of the rest of the drama.

It's great to see GOOD telly made once again, considering all the 'pap' put out by TV these days, both in too many other miniseries and in non-dramatic broadcasts.

They didn't labour the 'ah-ha' realisation moments. The viewer wasn't treated like an idiot. So there was no feel to this of a soap-y and lightweight miniseries. This one will stay with the viewer for some time. And it is a good memory.

Great Show

[adam_traynor · 9/10 · 14 May 2023]

Upon watching this show for the last 4 weeks I have found that this show tackles two really important subjects. And it shows the huge amount of stress that A&E Doctors can find themselves under which can lead to mental health issues.

Which could lead to them to develop a dependency on the medication that they may have been prescribed and then coming off their medication to soon which could then lead onto issue with addiction.

The show then shows what can happen to families when addiction come into play and how it can affect others family members which could lead those family members having to make really difficult discussions in order to protect themselves and other family members such as children.

MALPRACTICE

[gerbaldo90 · 7/10 · 27 April 2023]

The clue is in the title people. This is neither a crime drama or murder mystery. It's about medical negligence or allegations thereof.

Up to ep3 now and am enjoying the story and plot so far. Sadly I think a lot of the story is quite plausible as people often only recall things that put them in a good light and forget the bad things they have done or said. That is life.

I too have fallen asleep watching programmes, needless to say it's because I am tired and has nothing to do with the show. Don't be so dramatic. You can't really leave a review imo if you only watched less than 1 hour. I shall update my review when I have FINISHED the series.

UPDATE:

So after watching the entire series, it could have probably ended stronger. Maybe one more episode? Having said that, if this is the writers first attempt, it was pretty good!

All in all a pretty decent drama, and it all tied in quite nicely really. May have been nice to see the outcome of her tribunal, but that's just me being nosey! Due to the ending I sadly can't give it more than a 7/10 but it could have been a 9/10 potentially, compared to most of the rubbish on TV these days. The acting was pretty solid and the smoke screens and twists were quite clever.

Look forward to another drama by this writer, hopefully with a stronger ending.

Exciting masterpiece

[sirrasor · 9/10 · 16 May 2023]

Let's see: -Plot is good -Writing is good -Cast is good (Niamh Algar yeeey :) ) -Acting is good

As expected from the above, the end result is very good. After seeing a lot of Hollywood "gems", this series is a great relief from that.

I like to think about what will happen and in many cases I was completely surprised by where the plot went.

I didn't like what happened on several occasions, but what actually happened was life-like, so it was even better that way.

In some ways, I am also an addict (not drugs! Coffee, sugar) but I could fully experience the situation that Lucinda was in, because in many cases I feel completely powerless to say no to my "drugs" and can't continue without getting my "dose".

So the interplay of addiction and helplessness was brought to the screen beautifully.

Definitely worth a watch

[cherylanderson-69308 · 7/10 · 30 December 2023]

I really enjoyed this, it was tense at times with lots of twists. The acting was great too.

Niamh was fantastic.

It's a good medical drama, with a few unexpected bits. You want to hate the investigating officers, but I really didn't. It's believable too. Obviously some plot holes, if things like that happened in real life I would hope there would be bigger repercussions. Just don't think about it too much, take it with a pinch of salt.

I called it quite early on, however it didn't detract from the series at all. I watched it all in a day and would recommend it to others for sure. Just sit back and enjoy.

Great TV drama

[martinpersson97 · 9/10 · 8 September 2023]

This recent TV drama is definitely one of the better shows of the year, and I was thouroughly impressed by it by every means.

Made by a talented director and showcasing some great writers and actors, it delves deep into the titular issues in interestng and well-written ways.

The actors all do an incredible job, and help give the great script life in splendid fashion. I am very interested to see even more of them, of course.

The cinematography is great, and so is the cutting and editing. All around very beautifully put together and well shot.

All in all, a very competent TV drama that I would highly recommend!

Thrilling first season with room for improvemen

[gbm01 · 7/10 · 29 April 2023]

The level of tension was kept high from the first to the last episode of this first season. In the end, they still leave open the possibility of a second season, which I hope will cover the failures of the NHS as a whole, addressing other forms of malpractice.

I also want to highlight the outstanding performances of Niamh Algar as Dr. Lucinda, as well as the entire supporting cast. The chemistry between the characters was palpable, and their portrayal of the stresses and moral dilemmas faced by healthcare professionals was both realistic and nuanced.

However, while the show offered a gripping portrayal of the internal conflicts of healthcare professionals, I couldn't help but notice the artificiality of the investigations into medical misconduct. The speed at which they occurred, coupled with the questionable access to information, seemed overly convenient and unrealistic. As a viewer, it made me question whether such investigations can truly take place at such a rapid pace in the British healthcare system, where bureaucracy and red tape can often hinder progress. Nonetheless, I hope this is something the show will address in future seasons, as it has the potential to add another layer of authenticity to an already compelling drama.

Written by someone who has no idea how NHS works

[joseyong-41953 · 1/10 · 25 April 2023]

Apparently this is written by a doctor! Is she a fantasist? Needing to see a psychiatrist herself? Totally proposterous concept which just gets stupider. Apparently lead is under investigation by a medical investigation unit. Who can gain access to her phone records and hospital CCTV! Honestly I wasted an hour of my life on this crud. How is it getting decent reviews. Even if I wasn't a medic, you can see holes it in a mile off. It's truly abominable.

I like this actress and she is ok but the rest of the acting is so wooden. Oh yeah, forgot to mention lead did some crazy surgery in a+e like they do in er. Do yourself a favour and watch any medical or crime drama apart from this!

Missed chances for a 10 star

[vivnista · 6/10 · 16 May 2023]

The acting was very good I thought and the interactions between the staff were well written, making them seem like an actual team. I also liked the storyline and would have given it a much higher rating if it wasn't for that fact that a hospital continuing an investigation that quite clearly should have been handed over to police after people have been killed was stupid. Additional characters could have taken over the plot here and made it more believable rather than trying to turn the medical teams into Miss Marple. I love a whodunit but was annoyed at the off when 1 character gets hit by a car in a busy street with dozens of witnesses and yet no investigation by police into that either?! Made me question the writing.

bit of alright

[wrigco · 7/10 · 29 December 2023]

Look, this didn't send frissons of excitement up my spine but it was reasonably tense at times. The thing is not to take everything at face value or there wouldn't be a TV series.

How anyone in charge, no matter what class of work - could have access to such detailed personal information about one of their employees is mind boggling, admittedly.

At any rate, I did enjoy it and even rooted for the main character even though I found her to be rather unlikable. There were other unpleasant characters too, I guess none of them really covered themselves in glory.

Still, in the end it was a good watch. The only guy I vaguely recognised, still not sure from where, turned out to be the baddy!!!

[7.1] Accidents and money

[cjonesas · 7/10 · 3 March 2024]

Well-done on so many level, grabbing your interest and attention from the get go, terrifically mixing medical procedures, drama, personal lives with just some amounts of suspension of disbelief as to the crime, personal drama of the show.

The danger of drugs are real and strangely, even Diazepam as mainly an anti-anxiety is no exception. Have a feeling that 5 episodes were not enough and a plus one dealing with the panel ruling and her life afterwards would have benefited 'Malpractice'.

• Screenplay/storyline/plots: 7
• Development: 8
• Realism: 7
• Entertainment: 7.5
• Acting: 8
• Filming/photography/cinematography: 7.5
• VFX: 7.5
• Music/score/sound: 7
• Depth: 7
• Logic: 6
• Flow: 7.5
• Crime/drama/thriller: 6.5
• Ending: 6.

Underwhelming

[mariaadam · 1/10 · 29 April 2023]

I was really looking forward to watching this as I love the previous work the series director have done : Boiling Point. (definitely give it a watch!). Unfortunately I have to agree with all the bad reviews I have read here. Im surprised the lead actress keeps being cast as the lead. I have seen her in three different shows now and she is very average. Saying that I think this is her best performance to date. Give yourself a favour and watch : This is going to hurt. The performance of Ben Whishaw is incredible and the show is so much closer to reality of NHS then unfortunately this show. It feels like a missed opportunity as we really need to highlight all the wrong thats happening to NHS.

Such a disappointment

[Cathesp · 2/10 · 27 April 2023]

Was so looking forward to this but very disappointed. So far away from real life that artistic licence really doesn't cut it.

First the doctor appears to be in a ward and doing a procedure that would be done in a special treatment room and certainly not by a doctor from A&E department, which we then find out that she is. Then doctor is given the most ridiculous pressure to make a vital decision. Then we discover that a friend is on the investigation panel, which just wouldn't happen - this is a conflict of interest and the case would be thrown out if it came to tribunal.

And the stupidity continues. Such a shame.

Complete Melodramatic Nonsense

[bheydam · 1/10 · 25 April 2023]

This is both silly and nonsensical and in no way mirrors true healthcare delivery through the NHS or, really, medical practice anywhere.

Do yourself a MAJOR favor and watch "This Is Going To Hurt" instead. That series is absolutely brilliant, honest depiction of care in the NHS, and extremely well-acted and produced. Phenomenal series.

Dr. Death is also interesting to view a true story depicting absolutely insane medical practice across the pond. It does not have the same engeament, story, or brilliance of This Is Going To Hurt, but it is a good medical series.

Malpractice is pure nonsense and bears no resemblance to reality. One hour of my life I'll never get back....

Credibility Disaster

[fdbjr · 4/10 · 9 November 2023]

I watched about ten minutes of this show, until a credibility issue so disastrous showed up that made me disinterested in continuing.

A man armed with a pistol, waving it around, has invaded the ER. The heroine runs TOWARD the spot. (Already we're on thin ice.) A police officer warns her to keep back. Undaunted, she pushes the officer aside and races in to confront the armed man.

Are you kidding me? She knows nothing about the man. She knows nothing about the situation. She hasn't the slightest idea of the circumstances that led to this dilemma, or the immediate history, the motivation of the terrorist, etc., etc. But - boldly - SHE"s going to take charge and resolve the problem. Yeah. Sure.

No one in his or her right mind would behave like that, not even a doctor with a God complex. If you are going to do a drama that's supposed to be somewhat realistic, you might consider grounding it in reality.

I don't know what was coming next, but if this is going to be the level of common sense of the balance, count me out.

as plausible as NHS workers receiving a proper pay rise

[whytekt · 3/10 · 8 May 2023]

What a load of drivel. The writers should be given a special TV award for managing to turn what was an interesting premise into a hotch potch of a plot with just too many themes. Pointless meetings fill the time instead of insightful dialogue. The character development is non existent....who cares. Silent witness type investigators are struggling to fill their days judging by the shallow depth of their questioning, deductive process and inability to join the dots....despite the use of the cliched flow diagrams!!! This programme makes you dislike nurses, investigators, doctors, pharmacists, drug addicts and of course, actors, lazy script writers and ultimately drama directors. I am sticking to Casuality and Quincy MD from here on!!

Good for a sleep remedy.

[StephenKinsey666 · 1/10 · 26 April 2023]

They keep pumping out these murder mysteries and crime-drama's (and I think at this point, fatigue is setting in for me seeing a new drama advertised every week it seems and the chances are, it's something we've already seen or is a complete mess or just incredibly boring) so where does this show fall?

It falls into the 'It was so boring that I fell to sleep half-way through, I couldn't care less for any of the characters (If anything I was hoping the building was collapse onto the main protagonist and end it all right there but no, it just kept going...just like my life). None of it felt natural, it was forced and cheesy. The plot was dull, and nothing you should waste your time on. They seriously need to limit the amount of crime-dramas and mysteries that come out because it's getting tiring.

Where's the men ?

[Xavier_Stone · 3/10 · 25 April 2023]

This is a really strange hospital, no men around but a fellow nurse who is of course naive. All the major characters are women and it takes nearly half of the show to get to a male character who gets more than two lines of dialogue.

Fast forwarded to the near end, and the focus is obvious.

Strong female lead(s), female supporting characters and any male characters are naive nurse or written as the bad characters.

Not too much of a surprise to see where this show is headed. 3/10 for some hospital scenes but it got old fast.

Strong female lead(s), female supporting characters and any male characters are naive nurse or written as the bad characters.

Not too much of a surprise to see where this show is headed. 3/10 for some hospital scenes but it got old fast.

Could've been.....

[troyquinton · 2/10 · 6 May 2023]

This could have been so so so much better. Great cast, but the writing of the tv show was predictable. Reminds me of a US tv show, typical and boring and again predictable, not what is expected of great usual UK television episodes. This is nothing more than a junkie doctor covering the madness. Loose writing, like I said a great cast.

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