Why I like watching House

So my son, Jeffrey, turned me on to House on Fox TV and I really get a kick out of that show.
I have to admit that when I first started watching it, I "didn't really get it." I think it takes a few times watching him, to begin to understand some of the finer points in the show.

Being in the medical profession, I am constantly amazed at some of the situations you encounter. Sometimes it is the patient that can surprise you and sometimes it's their family that can surprise you.

(Ok, No groans from my family when I start talking medical stuff. They have listened to alot of medical stories over the years. {Remember, that topic "I know somebody who died like that??...."} Well, anyway, it's sometimes easy for me to forget that they are not in the medical realm and really don't want to hear gory details while eating their dinner.)

I like watching the way House deals with some of his patients. Many of the themes of the show happen in real life. One example of that is how often patients don't tell you the truth.
In the show tonight, the patient lied about medication that she was taking and she had lots of complications from that omission.
I have had patient's lie about EVERYTHING (ie. drugs, symptoms, alcohol usage, allergies, prior treatments and the list goes on...). I even had a lady lie about needing to take a pregnancy test, because she didn't want her second husband to know she had had a hysterectomy. {I thought it might not be too long before she had a third husband with thinking like that!}

I haven't really figured out if they mean to lie or they just don't remember things. I really can't understand how someone can "forget" to tell the doctor that they have a pacemaker (or have had heart surgery, or are diabetic, or have cancer, etc....This list also goes on and on regarding omissions that have actually happened with patients...).

Anyway, I like how House "tells it like it is" to his patients. He doesn't sugar coat anything. I have often wondered how it would feel to tell that patient that forgot to "share" important medical information, "Are you an idiot? That lack of information could kill you!" House manages to get away with NO bedside manner. His lack of finesse is humorous to me.

I also like watching House because they do "talk medical stuff" and because it does bring home the point that medicine is not an exact science. Patient's sometimes forget that doctors don't always know exactly what is wrong with them.
WARNING: Quit reading now if you don't want free medical advice.....
My advice, for what it is worth, is to write your medical history down and keep it handy when you go to the doctor. Listen to your gut instinct and ask questions if you aren't sure what the doctor is recommending. Doctors are not Gods....even House "knows somebody who died like that....."

If you don't watch House...give it a try....it can be kind of addicting...