Hugh Laurie stars as acerbic but brilliant New
Jersey medic Dr Gregory House in the fourth

series of the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning
medical drama. In this episode, House must
contend with a documentary film crew following
his every move as he treats a facially deformed
teenager who has suffered a heart attack. At the
same time, he faces dissent from within his team.
A teenager with a severe facial deformity arrives at
the hospital ready to undergo surgery that will
finally rid him of his disfigurement. Sixteen-yearold
Kenny is being trailed by a film crew who is
making a documentary about his case and paying
for his treatment. However, just before the
procedure is about to begin, Kenny suffers a heart
attack and is shocked back to life.
The case lands on House’s desk, but the
disgruntled doctor is not pleased to learn he must
tolerate the presence of a film crew. His applicants
toss around ideas as to the cause of Kenny’s cardiac arrest, all of which are related to his unusual growth – until House encourages them to rethink the case. “Forget the deformation,” House urges them. “Treat the patient like he’s any other really, really ugly kid.”
House decides that Kenny’s symptoms could be explained by drug abuse and persists with this belief even when initial tests are negative. He is opposed by Taub in particular, who suspects that Kenny has intracranial pressure – a rise in pressure in the brain.
Both theories are put on the back burner when Kenny begins coughing up blood. After further testing, House hits upon the notion that Kenny has juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and orders him to be put on steroids. Taub decides to mutiny and confronts Kenny’s father with his doubts about the medication. “I think Dr House is wrong and that the steroid treatment could be dangerous,” Taub says.
“I think I can get House thrown off the case.” The father refuses House’s treatment until the diagnosis is confirmed, and Cuddy is forced to intervene. She reprimands Taub for his actions but overrules House’s attempt to fire him. “No one is firing anyone in the middle of this case,” she says.
While a CT scan is conducted that should settle the matter, House gets his revenge on Taub by delving into his personal life and turning up a surprising secret. Further misery is piled on the plastic surgeon when the scan results appear to confirm House’s diagnosis.
House treats Kenny with steroids but is alarmed to see what may be a new symptom. Taub claims that House simply does not want Kenny to be cured because he is against the boy having surgery. “You’re not normal, so you don’t want anyone else to be normal,” he says. “You don’t think that normal is healthy!” Taub effectively proves that Kenny’s condition is stable and that he can at last go under the knife. But a further twist in this battle of wills suggests that both House and his errant employee are mistaken...
Also this week, House comes to regret his rash hiring of Dr Samira Terzi (Michael Michele, ‘ER’) when her diagnostic skills prove to be a sore disappointment. “I think she might be an idiot,” House tells Wilson. He is further alarmed to discover that his attraction to Dr Terzi is overwhelming his judgment – to the point where he can no longer tell if her suggestions are any good. It would appear that Dr House, like many a man, is reduced to a gibbering wreck by the charms of a good-looking woman. “I can’t believe I’m that guy!” he moans.