American Doctor documentary follows physicians in Gaza

The documentary ‘American Doctor’, directed by Poh Si Teng, follows three American physicians providing medical aid amidst the collapsing hospital system in Gaza. The film, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and is now appearing in select US theaters, focuses on the experiences of orthopedic surgeon Mark Perlmutter, emergency doctor Thaer Ahmad, and trauma surgeon Feroze Sidhwa.

The doctors, who represent diverse religious and cultural backgrounds—including Jewish, Muslim, and Zoroastrian—witness the humanitarian impact of the conflict following the October 2023 Hamas attack. The film highlights their work on the frontlines and their subsequent roles as advocates in the United States, specifically within the halls of Congress regarding military aid to Israel.

While Israel states it targets Hamas fighters using tunnels beneath medical facilities, the physicians featured in the documentary report that they have not observed such tunnels in the hospitals where they worked. The film aims to use the perspective of medical professionals to provide testimony on the conditions in Gaza.