MDA 

Medical Defence Australia, a team of lawyers and doctors who defend doctors charged with malpractice, ranging from Botox injections gone wrong to spinal cord injuries.

Stars:

Shane Bourne, Angus Grant, Petra Yared

7 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Shane Bourne	...	Bill 'Happy' Henderson 56 episodes, 2002-2005
Angus Grant	...	Dr. Jamie Lawless 56 episodes, 2002-2005
Petra Yared	...	Layla Young 56 episodes, 2002-2005
Jason Donovan	...	Richard Savage 44 episodes, 2002-2003
Angie Milliken	...	Amanda McKay 34 episodes, 2003-2005
Kerry Armstrong	...	Dr. Louella Davis 32 episodes, 2002-2003
Alice McConnell	...	Caitlin King 31 episodes, 2002-2003
Michael Carman	...	Mark Matthews 30 episodes, 2002-2005
Kurt Geyer	...	Geoffrey Lane 27 episodes, 2002-2005
Aaron Pedersen	...	Dr. Tony McKinnon 23 episodes, 2002-2003

Storyline

MDA is an Australian Medical Defense Organisation. It serves an insurance function, defending the doctors who form its membership against lawsuits and malpractice actions, in return for a fixed annual fee. Its staff are a mixture of lawyers and doctors, led by lawyer Bill 'Happy' Henderson (Shane Bourne). He is ably aided by Dr Ella Davies (Kerry Amstrong), who later leaves to become head of emergency medicine at nearby St Albans hospital. Jason Donovan plays nemesis Richard Savage, a partner at Kato and Pittman, seen either as a wily and passionate advocate for patient rights, or an ambulance-chaser.

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Plot Keywords:

medical | medical drama | 

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Genres:

Drama

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User Reviews

Definitely no `barking' around MDA

This series is more delicately crafted than would appear at a casual viewing. Most story-lines continue - sometimes over several weeks - and are over-lapped by yet other stories, so you have to sit with it over several weeks in order to actually `get' what it's about.

I'm thrilled that there are no `goodies' and `baddies' in this series. You know, like: `We're doctors/lawyers, and there ain't nothin' we cain't do!' If anything, MDA presents its characters as people, before all else. It presents the law as it is - rigid and flawed, but it's all we have. We see doctors as people who can be anything from cold and arrogant professionals, to scared victims of a system - medical indemnity - which we've `inherited' from the US. This system appears to almost have developed a life of its own in our current society, which seems to believe that perceptions of wrong-doing can be `fixed' with money.

Scripts are tight and economical - you have to pay attention - and the acting is superb. Worth a special mention is Shane Bourne (previously known as a stand-up comic!) His character (`Happy' Henderson) is complex and believable. I found myself angry with him and at the same time sympathetic when he behaved less than nobly towards his son. It's also good to see that Jason Donovan has left Scott Robinson well and truly behind him. His Richard Savage - while a bit one-dimensional for my tastes - is suitably reptilian to satisfy the character balance.

Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 July 2002 (Australia)

Also Known As:

MDA - Orvosi műhibák nyomában

Filming Locations:

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

50 min (56 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1