A few days ago, we talked about how Scrubs was a relatively accurate portrayal of medical life.
Let’s talk about the other end of the spectrum, namely, Fox’s House M.D.
As an emergency physician notes, the doctors in the House-universe seem super-human. Indeed, “the docs on that show are not only walking encyclopedias of rare diseases, but they are also genetic specialists, nurses (all specialties), pharmacists, x-ray techs (who do CT and MRI), respiratory therapists, phlebotomists, social workers, abuse counselors, chaplains and private detectives.”
And, of course, I don’t know many physicians who go to their patient’s homes to look for “clues.”
But, before dismissing it as a television show, there are some repercussions that some doctors are seeing. For instance, there are few physicians who have in-depth knowledge of every specialty, as portrayed in House. Indeed, as the emergency physician honestly says, “I am pretty good with the common stuff especially if it has recently started. Once you get into chronic diseases or rarer conditions, then as much as I would like to stroke my ego, I am pretty lost.”
And tellingly, he adds, “Then I have to explain to them how, unlike House or ER, I am more akin to Scrubs.”
Related posts:
- How House, M.D. is affecting patients’ expectations of medical care
- Dr. House and Vicodin addiction
- House, MD and Filipino doctors
- What is the most accurate medical show on television?
- House, MD: Looking for zebras first
- Would you rather have Gregory House or Marcus Welby as your doctor?
- Dr. Gregory House makes the medical literature
{ 5 comments }
In my writing about medicine in the media, I consistently hear that Scrubs really does the best job of capturing the feeling of medical practice. It’s odd, but apparently true, that the most “accurate” medical TV show recently has been a comedy.
Andrew Holtz
Author, The Medical Science of House, M.D.
http://holtzreport.com/housemd/index.html
Oncology Times column on accuracy of medical TV: “Accuracy, Shmaccuracy”
http://www.oncology-times.com/pt/pt-core/template-journal/oncotimes/media/Holtz-ScriptDoctor-Accuracy-Jan102007.pdf
Very well put. House M.D. is a circus of genius. Everyone knows everything. All problems solved. Rare disease super-knowledge at the top of the brain. And a super asshole leads the team.
I hope your analysis of Nip/Tuck follows
Right…Something tells every single doctor on Scrubs would get fired in a week. First off, they rarely do their job, of course that could be because they have little to no work.
It doesn’t take a genius to find a vein in an arm…Most physicians are capable of doing “nurse stuff” even if they normally don’t, a perfectionist like House would only trust his team, making that part valid.
They do have in-depth knowledge of hundreds of diseases, but that’s not really inaccurate unless you think diagnosticians are make-believe, they went to 8 years of Med School for a reason.
Sure, most doctors don’t break into people’s homes and House gets alot of rare cases, but it’s televison, you want real life, go outside and watch the leaves fall and listen to peoples boring stories.
I cringe at least 12 times during every episode of House. They make a wild list of possible diagnoses, then recklessly rush into one or 2 life threatening tratments will no evidence that the patient has the disease. Repeat 3x, then break into the patients house, then maybe someone has a brilliant hunch, and everyone lives happily ever after.
Laurie is a brilliant actor. The program should be watched as black comedy and is not in any way reflective of the practice of medicine in the known universe.
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