" Children under the age of 16 cannot be the focus, including any context of overlays and backgrounds (e.g. a closeup of a child on a swing "
I want to write a medical drama and one idea I had for a case/patient is a 13-year-old girl with cancer. The doctors meet her, go over the case and after that, she isn’t seen until the end of the episode. So she isn’t really the “focus” per se, more the problem that needs to be solved. The focus is on the main characters and the medical process. Do you think this violates the guidelines?
If I had to guess, I’d say you’re fine, as long as she’s considered a “minor character” and art scenes don’t focus on her closely. Tbh I’ve seen a lot of stories that have children as reoccurring characters, but I definitely don’t base guidelines on what other stories have lmao.
All the patients will be minor characters. lol They’re just there because you can’t have a medical drama without someone to practice medicine on. I’ve done so much research in the last few days. Case studies, procedures, protocols for surgery, etc. I’ve seen some creepy stuff I can’t unsee… but all for the sake of realistic portrayal.
Sounds like an interesting story idea! I haven’t seen many stories with semi-independent episodes before.
Whole point of that rule is to not be creepy about children and stuff, and I feel like they made the line deliberately strict so no one even comes close to screwing up. But yeah, if it’s minor and non-creepy then you should be good to go.
That’s true but some of my charcters are pediatric surgeons (0-17yrs old) I guess i could make her 16 or 17… eliminates the problem and is still a sad story of young person with cancer
. And cool I’d love to read it when you publish!
Thanks, there’s 8 chapters published already, it’s called Second Chance - Josie Jackson.
Mine is also about cancer but it focuses on how recent research is vital to finding ways to treat it. Basically two best friends working side by side. Of course there’s a lot of made up medical facts for the sake of fiction.
Mine is taking a more life/death angle of surgery. The choices made determine whether the patient lives or dies. And there are choices that matter in the personal life of the main character, as well. I’m only 1/2 an episode in and I thought about the age restrictions and read through the guidelines to see if paitents can be young because there are some diseases that only affect pediatric patients.
I’ve done so much research in the last few days. Case studies, procedures, protocols for surgery, etc. I’ve seen some creepy stuff I can’t unsee… but all for the sake of realistic portrayal.
I haven’t seen many stories with semi-independent episodes before. 
I’d love to read it when you publish!