Don't quote me on this, but I remember an article saying that it was preferred by Doctors over contemporary Medical Dramas due to how realistic it could get. It definitely touched on some heart strings.
Tbh, I think my favorite Cox moment is when he's yelling at this religious lady who refuses to get a blood transfusion and by the end of the episode finds a way to help her, instead of giving up. Really showed his dedication to making people get better.