[Photo: © 2009 FOX Broadcasting Co.]

Many thanks to House is Right reader Grace for calling my attention to an article about a recent AMA recommendation to ban the wearing of white coats by doctors. And today’s House-ism just seemed like the perfect tie-in for the article in Slate Magazine that tells us this:

The American Medical Association voted Tuesday on a resolution that would recommend hospitals ban doctors’ iconic white lab coats, citing evidence that the garment contributes to the spread of infection.

So, go figure, House really was Right!!

There are actually several reasons that the medical community is divided about the wearing of the coats. Doctors are split in their opinions because of these reasons.

Those in Favor of White Coats Argue:

• the coat instills docs with a humbling sense of responsibility
• puts patients at ease

Those against Use of White Coats Say:

• an alienating symbol of medical hubris
• the coats harbor potentially harmful bacteria
• may cause “white coat hypertension”

What are your opinions about the coats? do you think doctors should wear them, or not? Let us know!

[Photo: ©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Michael Yarish/FOX]

I never watch TV shows right when they air. It’s one of the things that happen when I want to watch several that air at the same time. (I love my TiVo.) So when I got to finally watch last night’s House episode, I got to thinking about it in a big way. Then I started to wonder what all of you thought about it.

First of all, it’s interesting that one of the unusual illnesses I talked about recently was discussed as one of the possible diagnoses for the POTW. For a while, they thought he had alien hand syndrome.

We were told that it would be the most shocking House episode ever. Did it live up to that? I’d say that it was a strong second to the episode where Kutner died, but that it did definitely come as a surprise. (If you haven’t watched it yet…you should come back to read the rest of this post after you watch it. This is no surprise you want to be spoiled.)

First of all, I was wondering last week why the love scene between House & Cuddy was so extremely short. Now it seems to make more sense. But now I’m sad that it wasn’t real. Huddy fans, what are your thoughts on this?

I was really enjoying the happiness that House showed when he woke up and found Cuddy’s lipstick by the bathroom sink. And the way he was so happy all day long at the hospital was cute too. But I knew something bad was going to happen next when he announced to the whole hospital about their interlude.

It was a big surprise to me that House saw Kutner in the room…I should have noticed his name in the press release, but I didn’t. But somehow, I think that’s what David Shore wanted…

We now know why they did the “top secret” filming at the closed mental hospital in New Jersey. It had to be for the scene with Wilson dropping off House. Now I wonder what next season will bring us. Will episodes take place with House as a patient…helping to diagnose patients over the phone?
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[Photo: stock.xchng.com]

Recently, a friend sent me the link to an article about some absolutely wacky sounding illnesses. At first when I started to read down through the list, I thought it might be a humorous article. But then I came upon Pica. We all know that one as an uncontrollable urge to eat certain inappropriate things and it is real. There was also the Werewolf Syndrome, which has been dealt with already on such primetime series as CSI. It’s extremely rare, but truly a real syndrome. And of course, there were a number of mental disorders which I skipped past immediately, since House is not a psychiatrist…he may need one at times, but that’s another post.

But after ruling all of those illnesses out, I was left with six perfect illnesses for Dr. House to tackle in upcoming episodes. (Not that the writers or producers will follow my suggestions, but this is my blog, so I’m imagining him dealing with them.) Here’s the first of the real medical mysteries:

Foreign Accent Syndrome

Foreign accent syndrome (FAS) is a speech disorder that causes sudden changes in speech pattern, intonation and pronunciation so that the victim is perceived to speak with a “foreign” accent. FAS usually results from severe trauma to the brain, such as a stroke or head injury, and typically develops within one or two years of the injury. Of the 50 to 60 cases that have been verified since 1941, only a few FAS sufferers regained their normal speech pattern, although some experienced success through speech therapy.

I think this would be the absolute penultimate illness for House to tackle. And in that episode with a patient so affected, he’ll test out his own ability to talk in other accents…like a British one! LOL! Maybe Madonna can be the patient and no one can figure out why she speaks in the British accent, since she is American. Lots of fun to be had with this one….

Fatal Familial Insomnia

Fatal familial insomnia (FFI) is a genetic sleep disorder that causes increasing sleeplessness, typically starting around the age of 50. The victim’s brain develops a plaque that inhibits the ability to sleep, and with less and less sleep, mental illness — including phobias, panic attacks, paranoia, dementia and hallucinations — set in. Within six months to three years after onset, the patient dies. There is no known cure.

The episode could begin somewhat like the one earlier this season with the woman who had liver failure and thought she hadn’t slept in days. Only this time, the patient would gradually become more and more sleep deprived and the team would search for the reasons why. Can you just see House worrying that when his leg pain keeps him awake, he might be developing such a disorder. And the patient would be difficult to diagnose, since those symptoms could be from mental illness or any number of other maladies.

Genital Retraction Syndrome

Genital retraction syndrome (GRS) is a mental condition prevalent in specific cultures that causes sufferers to believe that their external genitals are shrinking or slowly disappearing into their bodies. The widespread belief of the occurrence in portions of Asia and Africa has led to so-called “penis panics,” episodes of mass hysteria in which thousands of cases, often tied to local beliefs in witchcraft, may be reported in a short period of time.

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In the upcoming new episode of House entitled Here Kitty, the patient is convinced that a cat has predicted her death. On the surface, it seems like a silly idea. But there’s a real cat that seems to have that ability. His name is Oscar and he lives in a nursing home in Rhode Island.

Apparently, Oscar has a special ability that no one can explain, but which is very helpful and important to those he lives with. Oscar comforts dying nursing home patients. He doesn’t do this at anyone’s bidding, he just naturally knows when it’s about 2 to 4 hours before someone’s death and snuggles up with them to comfort them as they pass.

Oscar lives in a nursing home in Providence, RI and the nursing staff has come to take his actions very seriously. He’s been accurate 25 times. They say that when Oscar curls up with a patient, they use it as a signal to call the family and try to make the patient as comfortable as possible.

“Many family members take some solace from it. They appreciate the companionship that the cat provides for their dying loved one,” said Dr. David Dosa, a geriatrician and assistant professor of medicine at Brown University. He even wrote an article about Oscar in the New England Journal of Medicine.

He’s a truly remarkable cat. He’s received a special plaque celebrating his “compassionate hospice care” and was even covered by the CBS evening news.

No one is sure how Oscar knows it’s time to comfort a patient, but you can be sure, his work will continue to help the patients he lives with.

What are your thoughts about a cat having this extraordinary ability?

Ok, I know it’s cheesy, but this photo of Hugh Laurie holding a model of a human heart just screamed Valentine’s Day for House fans.

No matter what your Valentine’s Day plans, I hope you have a wonderful day!

[Photo: © 2009 FOX Broadcasting Co.]

In fact, I hope this post finds you happy about today’s inauguration of President Barack Obama.

[Photo: Kevin Mazur/Courtesy of HBO via image.net ]

This is an image of then President-Elect Barack Obama speaking during the HBO program entitled We Are One. The entire event was filmed on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. It’s a truly inspiring program. If you haven’t seen it yet, be sure to check your HBO listings for air times in your area.

No matter your political party affiliation, I hope that the promise of new ideas, fresh attitudes and a new sense of urgency in our leaders is inspiring to you. My hope is that the spirit of change is a good one for us all.

It was so appropriate that yesterday was the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., since the change he started back in the 1960s was a big part of why President Obama even could become president today. Now, instead of looking back, we can all begin to look forward to a brighter future. I’m more proud of America today than I ever have been.

Tonight, we ring in the new year and say goodbye to 2008. And this is my wish for a safe and prosperous New Year, for you and your loved ones! Happy New Year!

[Photo: © FOX Broadcasting Company]

Since the end of the year draws near and we have seen about half the House episodes in season 5, I thought it would be fun to ask you which of the episodes we’ve seen so far this season is your favorite. To me, it’s very hard to decide. I have things I love and things I don’t like as much about every one of the episodes.

And we are still waiting for those incredible spoilers we’ve been given!

So please comment and vote and let’s get a conversation started.

[Photo: © FOX Broadcasting Company]

Thanks to wonderful House fan Grace for sending me the tip about this cute poem. (All parents of little ones will definitely identify…) And how fitting that Christmas Eve was celebrated by watching House!

Twas the night before Christmas, a.k.a Christmas Eve
We made it through dinner and nobody heaved
I threw the boys in the tub and got them all clean
While hubby washed the dishes until there was a sparkley sheen

We wrestled them into pj’s and read them a book
One last glass of water and their vitamins they took
They brushed their teeth and gargled like Wookies
Then left out a plate of carrots and cookies

They felt that by the time Santa arrived
The reindeer would probably be carrot deprived
Such thoughtful little children I’ve raised
We put them to bed with compliments and praise

I put on their covers and shut off the light
“Nighty, nighty, sweet babies, may you sleep tight.”
“Nighty, nighty, dear mama, we both love you.”
“See you in the mornin’; I love you both, too.”

Since the children were nestled, tucked up in the bunk
I got comfy on the living room couch with my hunk
Me with my popcorn, he with corona and lime
We had just settled down to watch some prime time

When out of the corner of my eye should appear
Little A out of bed, holding his rear
“I have poo poos, Mama,” he cried.
I rolled my eyes and heavily sighed.

“It’s 9PM, of course you do.
There isn’t a night that goes by when you don’t poo!”
I changed his diaper as quick as a mouse
As hubby was waiting; we were watching House

I returned and then the team was just about to diagnose
It has to be this time - Lupus, of course
When out of the corner of my eye should appear
Little A again, pulling at his ear

“What’s wrong with you now?” I sighed.
“My ear needs cream,” he replied.
So we got out the cream and put House on pause
“You know if you don’t go to sleep, there will be no Santa Claus.”

“OK, Mommy,” he nodded
And off to his room again he so trotted
I looked at hubby for him to press play
Hoping this time in his room Little A will stay

An insulting comment, one snide remark
Dr. House gave his team with Spriteskeeper-like snark
When out of the corner of my eye I did see
Little A, yet again, shuffling up to me

Immensely irritated, I just gave him a look
He grinned really wide and showed me a book
“Mommy, dis is my faborite stowee.”
“Darling, I am trying to watch Hugh Laurie!”

I gritted my teeth and dragged him off to bed
An array of punishments danced in my head
Spankings came to mind; maybe a bar of soap
Strangling is done best with some rope

I covered the child and breathed in deep
“Son, this has to stop, you must go to sleep!”
“But, Mommy, sometimes I just can’t close my eyes!“
“If you don’t then Santa will never leave your surprise!”

He nodded, “OK, Mommy, I will be good.”
I truly hoped this time that he would.
I went back to my hubby and the mental MD
We finished the show, turned off the TV

We wrapped all the presents, set them under the tree
Scattered crumbs on the table from the cookies
Tossed soot near the fireplace and messed up the shoes
(’Cuz that’s where we put them, don’t know if you knew)

We put on our pj’s and jumped into bed
Too tired for funny business, I patted his head
“Merry Christmas, dear hubby, now turn off the light.”
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

[Image: stock xchng]

Fans of the Seinfeld show know that today, December 23rd is officially Festivus. It’s the holiday for the “rest of us”.

So I thought it was appropriate to post my holiday wishes for all of you on this Festivus day.

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No matter the holidays that you personally celebrate, I wish you the best ever. So, Happy Festivus, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Kwanzaa, Joyous Winter Solstice, Wonderful Ramadan and Happy Hanukkah!

May you have the most prosperous, happy and fulfilling 2009 too!