Summary
- Doctor Mike criticizes House M.D. for an unrealistic patient diagnosis after one of their patients suffers burns in season 2, episode 12.
- The show embellishes symptoms for dramatic effect, leading to a diagnosis the real-life doctor says wouldn't have been as big a deal in real life.
- The real doctor states extreme measures taken in the show wouldn't be justified in real life for this particular situation, showing how the series uses drama for better impact.
Real-life medical professional Doctor Mike has been left astonished after watching an episode of cast of House believe something more is wrong with him than just the burns. This leads to a large-scale investigation as they try to uncover why he's experiencing symptoms like bleeding to the brain and lack of control over his bodily functions.
However, Doctor Mike was left astonished after watching this episode of House M.D., criticizing the entire premise alongside the lengths the doctors went to in order to diagnose the patient.
In the video, Doctor Mike explains how the symptoms involved in the crash wouldn't have been cause for deeper concern than the initial accident, even with the additional problems the patient was facing. This includes the constant naming of random issues the patient could be facing, as well as being astounded by needless tests he's put under, comparing their diagnoses to WebMD.
Why House M.D. Isn't Always Realistic
The Show Embellishes For The Sake Of Drama
Doctor Mike watches as the team attempts to figure out what's going on with the patient, offering commentary that underscores how wildly assumptive their conclusions are. While he praises some elements of the show, such as maggots being used to eat away at burned flesh, he critiques House's method of forcibly waking the patient up as grounds for him getting fired. When it's revealed the patient was suffering from drug withdrawal symptoms, the real-life doctor shouts that he would have been fine even if House and his team hadn't gone to extreme lengths.
While there are plenty of episodes of House that have interesting cases somewhat grounded in reality, some like the one Doctor Mike analyzed are over-the-top in of their diagnoses of different illnesses. This can often lead to situations that, in real life, wouldn't be as dramatic nor convoluted as the patients the team in the show analyze. However, without that added flair of fictionalization, the series wouldn't be as gripping for every new case the hospital analyzes.
Why House Ended After Season 8 (Was It Canceled?)
Following House coming to a close after eight seasons, questions were raised about whether the Hugh Laurie-led medical drama was canceled.
Even so, House M.D. has maintained its status as a classic TV show because of its Sherlock Holmes-inspired cases and diagnoses. While the series can often veer into unrealistic territory, brought about by the characters behaving in ways no real doctor would, it adds to the fun nature of the show's premise. However, the constant tests, theorized diagnoses, and desperate measures taken wouldn't be justified in the real world, cementing the show as a clearly fictional version of what a real hospital would do.
House M.D. was created by David Shore, who went on to create The Good Doctor.
Source: Doctor Mike/YouTube
House is a medical mystery drama in which the villain is typically a difficult-to-diagnose medical malady. It follows Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie), a world-renowned disabled diagnostician with a notorious substance abuse issue. With his team of world-class doctors, House has built a reputation as one of the most brilliant doctors in the world - an especially impressive feat when taking into that he rarely actually sees his patients.
- Directors
- Deran Sarafian
- Writers
- David Shore
- Seasons
- 8
- Streaming Service(s)
- MAX
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