Emancipation (House)
Encyclopedia
"Emancipation" is the eighth episode of the fifth season of House
and the ninety-fourth episode overall. It aired on November 18, 2008.
minor working at a factory, suddenly clutches her chest and coughs up blood. Meanwhile, House
comes into Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital and House claims he did not ask Cuddy
out; although Wilson does not comment, House suspects something is up. The team takes on the case and Foreman
suggests Sophia's collapse is due to pregnancy
, but Kutner
does not believe it, nor the notion that she is taking drugs, as Thirteen
suggests. House orders an echo
, but Foreman asks to be let go temporarily to do clinical trials. House refuses, claiming he might need him for the current case. Taub
and Thirteen go to Sophia's apartment and discover a bong
, suggesting drug use, but Kutner believes Sophia needs steroids for vasculitis
.
Unfortunately, House tells Foreman to put her on beta-blockers, yet Foreman informs the rest of the team to take care of it and leaves. While Kutner administers the beta-blockers, Sophia claims the bong belonged to her ex-boyfriend and admits the doctors have no reason to trust her, insisting she has not used drugs. Believing her, Kutner aptly switches the medication to steroids. In the meantime, Foreman is doing clinic duty, but Cuddy wonders if he is trying to prove something to House. She hands him a case involving 4-year old Jonah, who is suffering from bloody vomit and diarrhea. His older brother Evan is surprisingly knowledgeable about medical procedure and thoughtful of him. When Sophia develops a psychotic breakdown, Kutner admits to giving her steroids and House blames Foreman for leaving it up to Kutner.
Foreman suggests prinzmetal angina, causing an artery in the brain to spasm, and House reluctantly agrees, but orders Foreman to trigger a spasm. Again, Foreman tells the team to set it up and page him when they are ready to run the procedure, due to Jonah's ongoing case. When attempting to look in his digestive system with a camera, Jonah starts giggling uncontrollably and Foreman is stumped. Talking to Cameron and Chase
for a differential, Chase notes the case is not interesting, but since House is not the primary, they will look into it. However, he warns Foreman it will not be enough to prove anything.
During an MRI scan, Kutner notices activity in the limbic system of her brain, indicating she was lying when she claims her parents are dead. Confronting her, Sophia reveals she is emancipated because her father raped her and her mother did not do anything about it. Back at the differential, Kutner suggests she might by lying about the rape and House notes it could due to emotional stress, explaining her symptoms, thus orders a round of anti-anxiety drugs. Alone with Wilson, he explains his reason about not asking Cuddy out, but Wilson insists on not giving opinions or insights, making House less than thrilled. Meanwhile, Cameron and Chase are just as stumped on Jonah's case, with Cameron noting that Foreman needs to focus on one case or the other. Just as Thirteen administers the anti-anxiety medication for Sophia, Foreman realizes the drugs are not helping, as her urine has turned dark-colored.
Continuing the differential, House wonders about Sophia's homemade furniture and Thirteen reports holes in the wood, indicating they were pressure treated, thus saying it would have released arsenic
into the air. When Foreman gets paged by Cameron and Chase, who still have not found anything regarding Jonah, Chase states they need more help than they can provide, but Foreman is still reluctant to ask House.
Meanwhile, Thirteen removes the arsenic from Sophia's body with chelation
, but the patient suffers a seizure
after the treatment is over. House concludes the arsenic was fighting what is killing Sophia and tells them to put it back in. The team considers leukemia, thus Sophia requires a bone marrow donor. A biopsy confirms acute promyelocytic leukemia
and although the patient is adamant in not contacting her parents for a bone marrow donation, Thirteen leaves to find Sophia's parents herself, only to discover the patient had stolen the identity of the real Sophia. The patient admits to identity fraud
, but still refuses to call her family, noting that when she gets sick enough, the team will give her the donation without parental consent.
Foreman, Cameron and Chase still mull over Jonah's case until Chase suggests if the patient's mother or brother has anything to do with his symptoms. An idea hits Foreman: the mother states she only gives one tablet of vitamins to her sons each day, but Evan must have urged Jonah to take more than he requires. Foreman diagnoses Jonah with an iron overdose and because Evan did it out of good intentions for his brother, Foreman assures him his brother will forgive him.
The next morning, the team has found a partial donor for "Sophia", but it is nearly impossible for her to receive a second donation if the first fails. House tells them to treat the patient no matter what, but deduces her rationalization over not calling her parents overrides her emotional desire to not contact them. He confronts her, claiming she must have done something to them, rather than the other way around. The patient finally admits to killing her infant brother. She tells House he drowned taking a bath while she was supposed to be watching him. House states if she dies by refusing treatment, her parents will hate her for killing their remaining child. "Sophia" relents and asks her parents to help her. They come to the hospital and reunite with their daughter.
With both cases solved, Foreman confidently tells House he will do clinical trials, having proven he can handle two patients at the same time. House gives his approval, leaving Foreman bewildered, but House explains that all Foreman had to do was tell him, rather than ask. As House leaves, Wilson notes his friend made a noble gesture, but that what House wanted was to prove to Foreman that he (Foreman) can handle the situation. House denies the accusastion. Wilson wonders if House is still interested in talking about Cuddy, and House insists he is not.
singer-songwriter Alexi Murdoch
.
House (TV series)
House is an American television medical drama that debuted on the Fox network on November 16, 2004. The show's central character is Dr. Gregory House , an unconventional and misanthropic medical genius who heads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in...
and the ninety-fourth episode overall. It aired on November 18, 2008.
Plot
Sixteen year old Sophia, an emancipatedEmancipation of minors
An emancipated minor is a minor who is allowed to conduct a business or any other occupation on their own behalf or for their own account outside the influence of a parent or guardian. The minor will then have full contractual capacity to conclude contract with regard to the business. Whether...
minor working at a factory, suddenly clutches her chest and coughs up blood. Meanwhile, House
Gregory House
Gregory House, M.D., or simply referred to as House, is a fictional antihero and title character of the American television series House, played by Hugh Laurie. He is the Chief of Diagnostic Medicine at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, where he leads a team of diagnosticians...
comes into Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital and House claims he did not ask Cuddy
Lisa Cuddy
Dr. Lisa Cuddy, M.D., is a fictional character on the Fox medical drama House. She is portrayed by Lisa Edelstein. Cuddy was the Dean of Medicine and hospital administrator of the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in New Jersey. She also becomes House's love interest through the...
out; although Wilson does not comment, House suspects something is up. The team takes on the case and Foreman
Eric Foreman
Eric Foreman, M.D., is a fictional character on the Fox medical drama House. He is portrayed by Omar Epps.-Background:A neurologist, Foreman was a member of Dr. Gregory House's handpicked team of specialists at Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital's Diagnostic Medicine Department...
suggests Sophia's collapse is due to pregnancy
Pregnancy
Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
, but Kutner
Lawrence Kutner (House)
Lawrence Kutner M.D. is a fictional character on the Fox medical drama House. He is played by Kal Penn. He becomes a member of House's new diagnostic team in "Games", the ninth episode of the fourth season...
does not believe it, nor the notion that she is taking drugs, as Thirteen
Thirteen (House)
Remy "Thirteen" Hadley, M.D., is a fictional character on the Fox medical drama House, portrayed by Olivia Wilde. She is part of the new diagnostic team assembled by Dr. Gregory House after the disbanding of his previous team in the third season finale...
suggests. House orders an echo
Echocardiography
An echocardiogram, often referred to in the medical community as a cardiac ECHO or simply an ECHO, is a sonogram of the heart . Also known as a cardiac ultrasound, it uses standard ultrasound techniques to image two-dimensional slices of the heart...
, but Foreman asks to be let go temporarily to do clinical trials. House refuses, claiming he might need him for the current case. Taub
Chris Taub
Christopher Michael "Chris" Taub, M.D., is a fictional character on the Fox medical drama House. He is portrayed by Peter Jacobson. He becomes a member of House's new diagnostic team in the Season 4 episode titled "Games".-Professional life:...
and Thirteen go to Sophia's apartment and discover a bong
Bong
A bong is a filtration device/apparatus generally used for smoking cannabis, tobacco,or other herbal substances.In construction and function a bong is similar to a hookah, except smaller and more portable...
, suggesting drug use, but Kutner believes Sophia needs steroids for vasculitis
Vasculitis
Vasculitis refers to a heterogeneous group of disorders that are characterized by inflammatory destruction of blood vessels. Both arteries and veins are affected. Lymphangitis is sometimes considered a type of vasculitis...
.
Unfortunately, House tells Foreman to put her on beta-blockers, yet Foreman informs the rest of the team to take care of it and leaves. While Kutner administers the beta-blockers, Sophia claims the bong belonged to her ex-boyfriend and admits the doctors have no reason to trust her, insisting she has not used drugs. Believing her, Kutner aptly switches the medication to steroids. In the meantime, Foreman is doing clinic duty, but Cuddy wonders if he is trying to prove something to House. She hands him a case involving 4-year old Jonah, who is suffering from bloody vomit and diarrhea. His older brother Evan is surprisingly knowledgeable about medical procedure and thoughtful of him. When Sophia develops a psychotic breakdown, Kutner admits to giving her steroids and House blames Foreman for leaving it up to Kutner.
Foreman suggests prinzmetal angina, causing an artery in the brain to spasm, and House reluctantly agrees, but orders Foreman to trigger a spasm. Again, Foreman tells the team to set it up and page him when they are ready to run the procedure, due to Jonah's ongoing case. When attempting to look in his digestive system with a camera, Jonah starts giggling uncontrollably and Foreman is stumped. Talking to Cameron and Chase
Robert Chase
Dr. Robert Chase is a fictional character on the Fox medical drama House. He is portrayed by Jesse Spencer. His character was a part of the team of diagnosticians who worked under Gregory House until the end of the third season when House fires him. However, he was then re-hired in season 6...
for a differential, Chase notes the case is not interesting, but since House is not the primary, they will look into it. However, he warns Foreman it will not be enough to prove anything.
During an MRI scan, Kutner notices activity in the limbic system of her brain, indicating she was lying when she claims her parents are dead. Confronting her, Sophia reveals she is emancipated because her father raped her and her mother did not do anything about it. Back at the differential, Kutner suggests she might by lying about the rape and House notes it could due to emotional stress, explaining her symptoms, thus orders a round of anti-anxiety drugs. Alone with Wilson, he explains his reason about not asking Cuddy out, but Wilson insists on not giving opinions or insights, making House less than thrilled. Meanwhile, Cameron and Chase are just as stumped on Jonah's case, with Cameron noting that Foreman needs to focus on one case or the other. Just as Thirteen administers the anti-anxiety medication for Sophia, Foreman realizes the drugs are not helping, as her urine has turned dark-colored.
Continuing the differential, House wonders about Sophia's homemade furniture and Thirteen reports holes in the wood, indicating they were pressure treated, thus saying it would have released arsenic
Arsenic
Arsenic is a chemical element with the symbol As, atomic number 33 and relative atomic mass 74.92. Arsenic occurs in many minerals, usually in conjunction with sulfur and metals, and also as a pure elemental crystal. It was first documented by Albertus Magnus in 1250.Arsenic is a metalloid...
into the air. When Foreman gets paged by Cameron and Chase, who still have not found anything regarding Jonah, Chase states they need more help than they can provide, but Foreman is still reluctant to ask House.
Meanwhile, Thirteen removes the arsenic from Sophia's body with chelation
Chelation
Chelation is the formation or presence of two or more separate coordinate bonds between apolydentate ligand and a single central atom....
, but the patient suffers a seizure
Seizure
An epileptic seizure, occasionally referred to as a fit, is defined as a transient symptom of "abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain". The outward effect can be as dramatic as a wild thrashing movement or as mild as a brief loss of awareness...
after the treatment is over. House concludes the arsenic was fighting what is killing Sophia and tells them to put it back in. The team considers leukemia, thus Sophia requires a bone marrow donor. A biopsy confirms acute promyelocytic leukemia
Acute promyelocytic leukemia
Acute promyelocytic leukemia is a subtype of acute myelogenous leukemia , a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. It is also known as acute progranulocytic leukemia; APL; AML with t, PML-RARA and variants; FAB subtype M3 and M3 variant.In APL, there is an abnormal accumulation of immature...
and although the patient is adamant in not contacting her parents for a bone marrow donation, Thirteen leaves to find Sophia's parents herself, only to discover the patient had stolen the identity of the real Sophia. The patient admits to identity fraud
Identity fraud
Identity fraud may occur when someone steals personal information, opens credit card accounts in the victim's name without permission, and charges merchandise to those accounts. Conversely, identity fraud does not occur when a credit card is simply stolen. Stealing one’s credit card may be consumer...
, but still refuses to call her family, noting that when she gets sick enough, the team will give her the donation without parental consent.
Foreman, Cameron and Chase still mull over Jonah's case until Chase suggests if the patient's mother or brother has anything to do with his symptoms. An idea hits Foreman: the mother states she only gives one tablet of vitamins to her sons each day, but Evan must have urged Jonah to take more than he requires. Foreman diagnoses Jonah with an iron overdose and because Evan did it out of good intentions for his brother, Foreman assures him his brother will forgive him.
The next morning, the team has found a partial donor for "Sophia", but it is nearly impossible for her to receive a second donation if the first fails. House tells them to treat the patient no matter what, but deduces her rationalization over not calling her parents overrides her emotional desire to not contact them. He confronts her, claiming she must have done something to them, rather than the other way around. The patient finally admits to killing her infant brother. She tells House he drowned taking a bath while she was supposed to be watching him. House states if she dies by refusing treatment, her parents will hate her for killing their remaining child. "Sophia" relents and asks her parents to help her. They come to the hospital and reunite with their daughter.
With both cases solved, Foreman confidently tells House he will do clinical trials, having proven he can handle two patients at the same time. House gives his approval, leaving Foreman bewildered, but House explains that all Foreman had to do was tell him, rather than ask. As House leaves, Wilson notes his friend made a noble gesture, but that what House wanted was to prove to Foreman that he (Foreman) can handle the situation. House denies the accusastion. Wilson wonders if House is still interested in talking about Cuddy, and House insists he is not.
Music
This episode features "Through the Dark" by ScottishScottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
singer-songwriter Alexi Murdoch
Alexi Murdoch
Alexi Murdoch is a singer-songwriter born in London and raised in Scotland, Greece and France, now living in Berlin.- Background :Murdoch was born in London to a Greek father and Scottish-French mother and raised in Greece, just outside of Athens until he was ten, when his family moved to...
.