Why Are There No Masks in The Pitt?

Many viewers are confused as to why doctors in The Pitt wear no masks or at least don’t seem to wear PPE that often. One of the main selling points of Max’s hit medical drama is its emphasis on realism, and it would seem as though the lack of facial masks is an oversight. On the other hand, some are wondering whether emergency room doctors actually don’t wear masks much at all. Perhaps this is realistic after all.

Why do the doctors in The Pitt not wear masks?

The main reason the doctors in The Pitt don’t wear masks is due to the show being fictional, as focused on realism as it is, and it’s easier to identify the doctors (and the actors that play them) when they don’t have a mask on. It’s similar to the reason why military dramas don’t have the main characters wear protective headgear when that would be far more realistic.

Now, it’s understandable that some viewers would be disappointed over the lack of PPE in many scenes in The Pitt. At various points in the show, we are shown flashbacks of the senior doctor on staff, Dr. Robby (Noah Wyle), still suffering from the trauma of treating COVID-19 patients, a time when he is seen wearing a lot of protective gear. So it would make more sense if he was a stickler about PPE. There’s a scene in Episode 5 where med student Whitaker (Gerran Howell) doesn’t wear a mask and is sprayed with so much blood that some enters his mouth. That doesn’t sound like common protocol.

That said, as some commenters who have experience in the ER report on The Pitt Reddit, it is common that staff in the emergency room don’t wear masks. Unlike planned surgeries where face masks and proper hygiene protocols can be followed, emergency surgeries many times don’t have the same luxury since every second counts. The policy on doctors wearing PPE also depends on the hospital, though sometimes doctors optionally wear masks during flu season. Grabbing goggles and eye protection while doing any procedure that involves draining is another time when many doctors would wear masks.

It’s important to note that the show is aware of the controversy around masks. In one scene, Dr. Langdon (Patrick Ball) asks an anti-mask patient whether she wants the doctors to wear masks when performing her upcoming surgery, and she capitulates that she does. So at the very least, the show has a clear stance on the matter.