Most people are idiots and liars. I’ve had that in mind for a long time before I even started watching House so maybe that’s why I like the show so much, lol.

The biggest bain of a doctor’s existence these days has to be the internet. At this point in the show (first season) and at this point (7th season) we’ve seen many examples of patients who’ve gone on the internet and simply googled their symptoms and tried to self-diagnose. For every person who actually turns out to be correct there’s probably a million who wasted their time obsessing over a condition that, had they spent 10 mintues in medical school, would know they had no chance of having for many reasons. I mean no offense but just reading the comments on this blog I see lots of people offering their own medical opinions who aren’t doctors. People think they know too much.

I don’t think doctors ignore a patients symptoms as a rule, I think they just know the odds and know that symptoms on their own do not a diagnosis make. Everything can come with a headache. The fun part about a show like House is that the ultimate diagnosis is usually something very simple or common that is presenting with uncommon symptoms or something very obscure that most doctors rarely encounter. in real life we’re probably more likely to have a cold or the flu than Kuru but it makes for interesting television if it’s something exotic.

The biggest complaint my mechanic has is that people are horrible at describing what’s wrong with their car. I think sick people can be the same way. Most people in any profession tend to move toward the more common explanations rather than something exotic. Common illnesses are common for a reason. Also I think people don’t have the same kind of relationship with their doctor as maybe the did in the past or that they should. An underlying theme in House is that patients lie all the time or omit details that could have helped. We common folk have no idea what’s medically relevant or we’re embarassed to tell our docs the truth about what we’ve been doing. Sometimes the big reveal in House is a stretch, sure, but it does ultimately help.

True there are bad doctors out there, same as any other profession, but I think doctors have become an easy target for people’s anger- specifically since sick people are easily angered to begin with. I don’t love my doctor but I go to him when I need to and usually he helps.

At the end of the day though, House is a television show and should not be taken as medical Gospel. As Scott has pointed out the medicine is wonky at times and it’s often crammed into place (sometimes badly) by the writers to fit the needs of the story or subplot. It’s meant to entertain first and occasionally to educate but if you’re interested in the science behind it I’d stick to this blog or do some research on your own. Part of the fun for me is watching the episodes then coming here to get the real scoop and clicking on Scott’s links to find out more about the conditions or treatments I find interesting

Either way House may be a brilliant doctor but in the end you’ll wind up losing three fingers and a kidney before he realizes you have a tick bite :-)

By the way, hilarious scene with the mute dad (”BOO! Uh, sorry”)