House Training (House)
Encyclopedia
"House Training" is the twentieth episode of the third season of House
and the sixty-sixth episode overall.
) collapses while participating (possibly acting as a shill
) in a Three Card Monte scam on the street. Lupe suffers from a lack of blood to the brain which temporarily paralyzed her ability to make decisions or exercise free will ("aboulia
," says Foreman, as "part of a . . . transient ischemic attack
"). Based on her background, Foreman immediately suspects Lupe's condition stems from drug abuse
, while Chase looks for other possibilities, such as toxins in Lupe's apartment. Lupe senses Foreman's disdain for the decisions she's made in her life, and Foreman grapples with his own humble past when his parents come to visit him.
When Lupe's symptoms worsen and her organs begin to shut down
, Foreman and the team suspect cancer
to be the culprit. When cancer is not found, the team thinks it must be an autoimmune disease
. Foreman presses for a full body radiation treatment. However, severe pain after the radiation leads the team to the final, correct diagnosis: an infection
. The radiation treatment has destroyed Lupe's immune system
and there is nothing anybody can do to save Lupe. Foreman tells Lupe the news and helps her cope with it.
Meanwhile, Cuddy and Wilson go out on a date to see an art exhibit together after House asked Cuddy to go to a play with him (at the very end of the previous episode, Act Your Age) and Cuddy declined. House probes Wilson's ex-wife about Wilson and his dating habits.
When it becomes clear that they cannot cure Lupe, House tries to perform tests on her while she is still alive. When Foreman forbids this, House becomes frustrated and says "I need to know." Lupe eventually dies and when House performs an autopsy
, it is learned that Lupe had a staph infection
from a scratch due to her bra hook, and the team didn't notice it because the strap covered it. House feels disappointed by the patient's death; however, unlike Foreman, House feels that the team took an appropriate course of action, stating that their unconventional decision-making abilities make them better doctors.
The episode ends with a small talk between Foreman and his mother, who is suffering from Alzheimer's. It is a bittersweet moment, as he realizes at the end of their conversation that she was not aware that he was her son. Foreman asks, "Do you know who I am, mom? It's Eric," with her replying "Of course. My little boy's name is Eric."
submitted this episode for consideration in the category of "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
" on his behalf for the 2007 Emmy Awards
.
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 sixty-sixth episode overall.
Plot
A young female scam artist named Lupe (Monique Gabriela CurnenMonique Gabriela Curnen
Monique Gabriela Curnen is an American film and television actress.- Early life :Curnen's mother is from Puerto Rico and her father is of German and Irish descent. Growing up in Framingham, Massachusetts, she attended Framingham South High School, where she was president of the Drama Club and acted...
) collapses while participating (possibly acting as a shill
Shill
A shill, plant or stooge is a person who helps a person or organization without disclosing that he or she has a close relationship with that person or organization...
) in a Three Card Monte scam on the street. Lupe suffers from a lack of blood to the brain which temporarily paralyzed her ability to make decisions or exercise free will ("aboulia
Aboulia
Aboulia or Abulia , in neurology, refers to a lack of will or initiative and is one of the Disorders of Diminished Motivation or DDM. Aboulia falls in the middle of the spectrum of diminished motivation, with apathy being less extreme and akinetic mutism being more extreme than aboulia...
," says Foreman, as "part of a . . . transient ischemic attack
Transient ischemic attack
A transient ischemic attack is a transient episode of neurologic dysfunction caused by ischemia – either focal brain, spinal cord or retinal – without acute infarction...
"). Based on her background, Foreman immediately suspects Lupe's condition stems from drug abuse
Drug abuse
Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, refers to a maladaptive pattern of use of a substance that is not considered dependent. The term "drug abuse" does not exclude dependency, but is otherwise used in a similar manner in nonmedical contexts...
, while Chase looks for other possibilities, such as toxins in Lupe's apartment. Lupe senses Foreman's disdain for the decisions she's made in her life, and Foreman grapples with his own humble past when his parents come to visit him.
When Lupe's symptoms worsen and her organs begin to shut down
Organ failure
Organ dysfunction is a condition where an organ does not perform its expected function. Organ failure is organ dysfunction to such a degree that normal homeostasis cannot be maintained without external clinical intervention.It is not a diagnosis...
, Foreman and the team suspect cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
to be the culprit. When cancer is not found, the team thinks it must be an autoimmune disease
Autoimmune disease
Autoimmune diseases arise from an overactive immune response of the body against substances and tissues normally present in the body. In other words, the body actually attacks its own cells. The immune system mistakes some part of the body as a pathogen and attacks it. This may be restricted to...
. Foreman presses for a full body radiation treatment. However, severe pain after the radiation leads the team to the final, correct diagnosis: an infection
Infection
An infection is the colonization of a host organism by parasite species. Infecting parasites seek to use the host's resources to reproduce, often resulting in disease...
. The radiation treatment has destroyed Lupe's immune system
Immune system
An immune system is a system of biological structures and processes within an organism that protects against disease by identifying and killing pathogens and tumor cells. It detects a wide variety of agents, from viruses to parasitic worms, and needs to distinguish them from the organism's own...
and there is nothing anybody can do to save Lupe. Foreman tells Lupe the news and helps her cope with it.
Meanwhile, Cuddy and Wilson go out on a date to see an art exhibit together after House asked Cuddy to go to a play with him (at the very end of the previous episode, Act Your Age) and Cuddy declined. House probes Wilson's ex-wife about Wilson and his dating habits.
When it becomes clear that they cannot cure Lupe, House tries to perform tests on her while she is still alive. When Foreman forbids this, House becomes frustrated and says "I need to know." Lupe eventually dies and when House performs an autopsy
Autopsy
An autopsy—also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy , autopsia cadaverum, or obduction—is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present...
, it is learned that Lupe had a staph infection
Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus is a facultative anaerobic Gram-positive coccal bacterium. It is frequently found as part of the normal skin flora on the skin and nasal passages. It is estimated that 20% of the human population are long-term carriers of S. aureus. S. aureus is the most common species of...
from a scratch due to her bra hook, and the team didn't notice it because the strap covered it. House feels disappointed by the patient's death; however, unlike Foreman, House feels that the team took an appropriate course of action, stating that their unconventional decision-making abilities make them better doctors.
The episode ends with a small talk between Foreman and his mother, who is suffering from Alzheimer's. It is a bittersweet moment, as he realizes at the end of their conversation that she was not aware that he was her son. Foreman asks, "Do you know who I am, mom? It's Eric," with her replying "Of course. My little boy's name is Eric."
Awards
Omar EppsOmar Epps
Omar Hashim Epps is an American actor, singer, songwriter, and record producer. His film roles include Major League II, Juice, Higher Learning, Scream 2, The Wood, In Too Deep, and Love and Basketball. Epps' television work includes the role of Dr. Dennis Gant on the US medical drama series ER,...
submitted this episode for consideration in the category of "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor - Drama Series
This is a list of the winners of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.-1960s:*1960: no award*1961: Roddy McDowall – Not Without Honor*1962: no award*1963: no award...
" on his behalf for the 2007 Emmy Awards
59th Primetime Emmy Awards
The 59th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California on September 16, 2007 and were televised live on Fox at 8:00 p.m. EDT for the first time in high definition...
.