‘The Pitt’ Has Inspired More Organ Donation and End-of-Life Planning, According to USC Norman Lear Center Study

From Variety:

After just one season, Emmy-winning drama “The Pitt” is already having an impact on healthcare conversations. That’s the finding from a new study released Monday by the USC Norman Lear Center, which said “The Pitt” has shifted the conversation on issues such as organ donation and end-of-life planning.

According to a group of 1,409 viewers surveyed by the Hollywood, Health & Society division of the USC Norman Lear Center, 26.9% of respondents said they were more likely to seek out organ donation information after watching “The Pitt,” while 17.2% said they shared the information with others. The study helpfully noted that the impact was especially great with Black audiences — an important distinction as Black patients are often overrepresented on transplant waiting lists and underrepresented with donors.

Also, a storyline on “The Pitt” about family members debating over the end-of-life decisions for an ailing father also appeared to have a major impact on viewers. Around 38.8% said they would look deeper into end-of-life planning such as a living will or power of attorney, while 15.3% said they shared this information with others.

And the study found that among the 709 viewers who had watched at least three episodes of “The Pitt,” almost 90% of them said “the series reveals how systemic problems like understaffing affect patient outcomes and helps make provider stress relatable.”

The USC Norman Lear Center Hollywood, Health & Society team also spoke with doctors, nurses and trainees, most of whom confirmed the authenticity of the show’s storylines — such as overcrowding, underfunding and other realities of their work.

Full Article: https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/the-pitt-organ-donation-end-of-life-planning-study-1236562186/