Comments on: House – episode 11

By: Dr. Sirius Black

Dr. Sirius Black — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 18:35:05 +0000

I didnt like the medicine in this episode and especially the young guns doing a vitrectomy this time!!! I mean come on you guyz cant do all things and deal with all specialties. Vitrectomy i.e. removal of the eyes fluid tht chase very conveniently did is not that simple a procedure per say. Only vitro-retinal surgeons do it or in some cases maybe ophthalmologists but certainly NOT general surgeon like chase. Secondly the patient doesnt start seeing immediately after the procedure this was a long fictional shot!! Didnt like it!!

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 13:26:41 +0000

Kevin – I presume that was why they included the information that the ground was ‘frozen solid’ – thus preserving the cat in its post-death state.

By: Scudder

Scudder — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 18:10:00 +0000

Wouldn’t first year medical students do at least a few animal autopsies? As far as addiction, all chronic, severe pain patients are likely drug dependent, and addicted. So what.? Should they be forced to live their lives in severe pain, because they’re “addicted”?

By: Kevin

Kevin — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:10:14 +0000

I went back watching some old episodes, and something caught my eye in this one…..
A cat that’s been dead and buried for a month would be heavily decaying, and there’s no way an autopsy could be performed… the tissue just would be much too deteriorated.
And on that note, we saw House do an autopsy on a baby a few episodes before this, but how and where did he learn how to do a cat autopsy!??! He’s not a vet!
Both points were totally unrealistic and just stood out like a sore thumb to me.

By: Flyndaran

Flyndaran — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:26:30 +0000

I’m not in the chronic pain department, but I did have major problems getting meds after a freaking botched anal fistulotomy.
None of the pain meds did squat for me other than impare my judgement. It would have been nice if he told me that all those weird sounding names were all opiates. My family has an absurd tolerance to them.

By: Flyndaran

Flyndaran — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:24:04 +0000

Witholding pain medication that you know is effective is exactly the same as causing the pain. That happens to have a more evocative name, “torture.”
Honestly as obnoxious as House is, law abiding I would have reacted violently to some ass torturing me. I’m funny that way.

By: Brett

Brett — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 06:54:05 +0000

To clarify my last post, I meant that the withholding of pain medication as blackmail was unethical, not necessarily the discontinuation of it (although it should be tapered to be fair).

And I will concede that it is only rarely seriously harmful.

By: Brett

Brett — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 06:44:09 +0000

@Luis

I would definately agree that there are some big red flags for addiction; his inconsistent usage schedule seems to indicate self medication of psychological problems, and he certainly resorted to some underhanded tactics to appropriate his pain medication.

However, it is important to remember that House is a long term narcotic analgesic user and would certainly have become bioconditioned to Oxycodone. His fellow physicians cut him off from his medication without warning and without any medication to treat discontinuation symptoms. This can actually be dangerous, and borders on malpractice. In the episodes you refer to, they do this to torture him (on purpose) until he yields to their will. That he would become desperate and steal pain medication while undergoing sudden and severe withdrawal is somewhat understandable. Sudden discontinuation is dangerous, and excruciating and no (good) doctor would force a patient to undergo it without good reason, and unfortunately blackmail doesn’t cut it.

When people are in severe pain they become desperate, and the fact that he experienced pain from sudden discontinuation is completely normal…it does not mean he is necessarily an addict.

Brett

By: Luis

Luis — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 16:49:24 +0000

Hey there
Where shall i begin…
I love these reviews, I’ve read most of them already, but I, unfortunetly, have a few matters of contention.
House is unfortunetly both an addict and dependant on his vicodin. His behaviors, antics, and reactions are all classic indicators of an addict. Although it is not shown to a great degree in this and earlier episodes, you must keep in mind that this was still early in the first season. For instance, he is stated to have forged signitures on Wilson’s perscription pad to obtain Vicodin. He is also shown trying to steal oxy from a dead mans room. As I’ve stated, these are indicators of an addict. He lies, he steals, and it wouldnt surprise me in the least if he cheats. I’ve seen this countless number of times when people come to my practice. I’m a psychiatrist by the way. Other than this problem with the grading of the show, I’ve enjoyed reading it.

thank you
Luis

By: reefer

reefer — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 07:41:09 +0000

If I were in House’s place, I’d relocate to California and switch vicodin for (medical)marihuana

However, to me personaly it never worked as a pain relief …
and yes, I know smoking is baaaad , but I rather be happy and not get too old,
than having to work till I’m 70 or die of boredom