The Medical Science of House, M.D.

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 272 pages
• Published by: Berkley Trade
• Edition: 1st Edition October 3, 2006
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0425212300
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0425212301
• Book Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Weighs: 9.6 ounces

Product Description
The facts behind the addictive medical drama starring Golden Globe winner Hugh Laurie.

Week after week, House, M.D. 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 looks at each case in detail and provides answers to such questions as:

- How can a teenager adopted at birth nearly die because his biological mother didn't get a vaccine?
- 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 lady when one may kill her and the other would abort her fetus

About The Author
Andrew Holtz, MPH, is a health journalist. A former CNN medical correspondent-and co-anchor for the Your Health program-he now works as a freelancer covering health and medicine. He is a board member and past president of the Association of Health Care Journalists.

Reader Reviews
With no malice towards the efforts of Mr. Holtz I didn't really think that this book was all that interesting. It's an explanation of some of what goes on in the modern practice of medicine explained with referrences to "House M.D." At the end of it all I felt that it made the show less enjoyable and while it was mildly informative about the practice of medicine it was nothing special. Holtz draws the conclusion that in the real world House would quickly be out of a job. Of course he would, but if TV dramas restricted themselves to reality no one would watch. I don't watch House to learn about medicine, I watch it to see an ongoing story about a brilliant man with an unconventional way of looking at things. My recommendations are as follows, if you want a book about modern medicine look for one that is not tied to a work of fiction and if you like "House M.D." continue to suspend disbelief and enjoy the show the same as always. My finalis that I suspect that someone wanted to write a very broad, general book about medicine and used "House M.D." as an opportunity to gain attention and market for the book.