How can a teenager adopted at birth nearly die because his real mother didn't get a measles shot? How can a husband's faith in his wife's fidelity determine whether radical treatment will cure her or kill her? How can a missed eye doctor appointment reveal a genetic disease? How can doctors choose the right course for a pregnant woman when one may kill her and the other would abort her fetus? Answers to these questions and more are pursued every week on House, M.D. Premiering in November 2004, the darkly quirky medical drama introduced a compelling new character to prime-time television: the sarcastic, abrasive--and brilliant--Dr. Gregory House. Week after week, House has held viewers' attention with brilliant cast performances and intriguing diagnostic mysteries often solved with daring treatments. But how much of the medical detail is real and how much is fabricated? In The Medical Science of House, M.D. , Andrew Holtz, a well-known medical journalist, reveals how medical detectives work--how they follow symptoms to their source. He examines each case in detail--and provides answers for every viewer who has ever wondered about the authenticity of their favorite show.
I've worked in the medical field for about 10 years now and two of the doctors I work with are fans of the show. One states that it's much more realistic than ER in terms of how medicine and doctors are portrayed. I love the show myself, and the book dovetails nicely with doctors explaining how they narrow their differential diagnoses in order to arrive at a definitive diagnosis in order to better treat the patient.
Interesting Stuff
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 17 years ago
You should know that this book is not a glossy guide to "House MD." But if you're looking to enhance your knowledge of some of the medicine in the show, it's a great read. It also addresses how Greg House might fare in the real world.
House has Left the House
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
... and entered a book... calling all Dr. Gregory House fans, read The Medical Science of House by Andrew Holtz. Holtz, a medical journalist, clarifies the mysteries and diagnoses in the television show House, which follows an irascible, but brilliant, diagnostician named, you guessed it, House. If you watch the show and it goes so fast that you need a review of medical terms and conditions or a clarification of the lightening fast thinking and and Jersey-esque verbal speed and brusqueness of the doctors, go to the show's website which recaps each episode in detail. For a broader view of the medicine on the show, Holtz's book not only explains several of the TV show's episodes and cases, it serves as an introduction to health care and medicine today. Holtz clearly and methodically explains the process of differential diagnosis for example. He covers the different kinds of vaccinations against diseases, briefly describes epidemics and other public health disasters, summarizes the various medical imaging techniques from x-rays to CAT scans and PET scans and generally covers a lot of ground in an entertaining style. This book was a quick read. I recommend it to any non-medical professional with an interest in the field, teens who like medical thrillers and possibly book clubs looking for a break from novels.
Fascinating read!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
This book is a must for House, M.D. fans and for anyone interested in medical facts. The book explores situations, conditions, diseases, etc. as in the House, M.D. television show and gives the real facts. As interesting as the cases are it somehow doesn't distract from the House, M.D. show even if sometimes the tv scenes are debunked a bit. I highly recommend this book.
Interesting, if you are "House" fan.
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
This book is interesting if you have watched "House, M.D." on a regular basis and are familiar with the odd medical cases on the show. If the reader hasn't watched the show, it might not make as much sense, however, it is still interesting to see how medical cases aren't always of the norm.
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