House: Billionaire Karma
October 14, 2009 by Stephanie Jaar
Filed under Television
Roy Randall is a billionaire paying for home treatment for his son, Jack, who is suffering from some sort of mysterious illness. The current doctor treating Jack tells Roy he is at a loss, and Jack should be transferred to a hospital for further treatment.
As a man with a lot of money and power, Roy heads straight to Princeton Plainsboro and demands that Cuddy allow House to treat his son. And we all know the problem: House does not have his medical license back yet, so he is indirectly treating Jack. Speaking of – how much longer will this be dragged out until he can start treating patients again??
The Dibala case is also still not closed. Foreman is required to speak about it at a Morbidity and Morality conference
(“M&M”). Foreman realizes there’s a blaring problem that’ll be tough to cover up. Dibala’s cholesterol levels don’t match on the tests. Chase keeps trying to come up with solutions to save his skin, and Foreman attempts to get out of the M&M by telling Cuddy he just “doesn’t feel like doing it.” Really now, Foreman. This isn’t Kindergarten!
Meanwhile, Thirteen has decided she wants to jet off to Thailand and Taub is still gone. Because I’m an old softy, I feel bad about how nonchalantly his part was thrown away. Was it so bad having a normal person with no issues on the show?! Someone who enjoyed their quiant little life and in the meantime saved other’s? I guess all I’m trying to say is that I wish the producers didn’t treat Taub as just a filler character. They could’ve at least given him some substance like Thirteen and Kutner. And this rant is probably two episodes too late.
Anyways – someone’s canceled Thirteen’s trip to Thailand! And here I was thinking we might be finally getting some closure to the whole Foreman/Thirteen romance. I should’ve known better. It wasn’t Foreman who cancelled the trip (he’s “moving on”), but Wilson who thinks she’s “good for House” and they need her back on the team. Thirteen still turns him down and by the episode’s end, we see her boarding a plane.
Back to our patient: after a brief ray of sunshine in Jack’s condition, he begins having seizures. He is first tested for brain cancer (not it), then abdominal epilepsy (nope) until Ray is finally told it’s Degos disease, an uncurable illness.
A grief stricken Roy calls up his lawyers and is ready to bankrupt himself: his money, house, cars, etc. Roy believes that his success and money is what caused him to lose his wife and now soon his son. He doesn’t think can be both successful and have a good family life.
And yet, the show’s still not over! House has a revelation before it’s too late. Jack is actually suffering from a blood vessel condition called primary antiphospholipid syndrome (yeah, I had to look that up) which is curable! And Roy is still bankrupt. Truly karma or not? Make of that what you will.
To sum things up, it looks like Chase might be able to get away with Dibala’s death. Someone (read: House) has unearthed Dibala’s past medical records which shows that Dibala was given supplements that could be used as an excuse for the uneven cholesterol levels. Foreman presents the case to the M&M and all is well. Or is it? Cameron is becoming suspicious that Chase is hiding something from her and she’s not buying into his lies. Seems like there’s trouble in paradise already.
For another take on this episode, read Instant Karma by Cameron Cubbison.
Season 6, Episode 4: Instant Karma (originally aired October 12, 2009)
For more on House, click here.
Tuesdays 8/7c on FOX
Photographs courtesy of IMdbpro
***Message from the Editor-in-Chief***
We have received several comments and emails concerning our use of word “curable” in this article in reference to Antiphospholipid Syndrome. First, we apologize for any offense that any readers may have taken from the use of that term. Second, we thank those readers who not only brought their concerns to us, but also shared with us wonderful, personal, and heartfelt stories explaining why they felt offended. Our knowledge base is broader because of your efforts.
***Message from the Editor-in-Chief***
We have received several comments and emails concerning our use of word “curable” in this article in reference to Antiphospholipid Syndrome. First, we apologize for any offense that any readers may have taken from the use of that term. Second, we thank those readers who not only brought their concerns to us, but also shared with us wonderful, personal, and heartfelt stories explaining why they felt offended. Our knowledge base is broader because of your efforts.
Have to agree….Antiphospholipid Antibody Snydrome…treatable, but NOT curable. My 22 year old daughter is in bed this week with a flare up of some of the 100 symptoms this strange disease can have.
I would like to see Thirteen back on the team with House rather than Foreman running the show. I don’t think Foreman has the extra bit of “wild-side” that it takes to jump on a diagnosis. As for the final Dx of Primary Antiphospholipid Syndrome it is NOT curable. It is treatable and the treatment is for life… that may be a long period of time if doctors actually know what they are doing. Unfortunately medical schools still teach that this is only a disease of pregnancy. Jack, an adorable young boy was quite obviously not pregnant…I certainly hope that sinks in with someone somewhere! APS is, in lay terms, an allergic reaction to the outter layer of all the cells in the body. It is a degenerative tissue disease and is often linked with Systemic Lupus, a diagnosis that Cameron brought up and was dropped right there. Had someone given her suggestion any thought, the testing for hemoglobulin issues may have saved this boy from some of the seizures and pain that he had to endure. I can’t wait to have House back in the saddle and between Foreman and Thirteen I would rather she stay on the team. As for the fleeting mention of Primary APS, it is estimated 5% of the world population has this disorder and is underdiagnosed until a clot, stroke, or cardiac arrest takes their lives. Taking a minute to learn about the disease could have led many people who have been under-treated to living a more fruitful, less painless, and longer life. If you have a minute check out apls.tk, you may save a life, prevent the heartache of miscarriage, or greatly improve the life of somebody you love! Thank you HOUSE for finally addressing the DX, albeit in a fleeting matter.
One comment… APS is NOT curable!
There are many people in this world suffering from it – and probably a lot more without a diagnostic.
APS can be somehow managed, not always kept under control (easily resulting in Deep Vein Trombosis, Strokes and sometimes death)…NEVER CURED.
Antiphospholipid Antibody syndrome is not curable. It is treatable with blood thinning drugs.
Please, please do not use the word curable with relation to Antiphospholipid Syndrome. Symptoms can be controlled, clotting can be reduced but the underlying disease is there for life and is not curable.
Please listen to the dialogue in the episode, it can be treated. Nobody mentions cured and for those who suffer from this disease every day of their lives, and who have to put up with the rumours and misinterpretations of medical terms get very upset when others tell them they can be, or have been, ‘cured’.
Regards
Eddie Bulfin
http://apls.tk
“Well; I’m stumped! We’ll have to wait for the autopsy”
As far as the scenario is revealed, I should be truly honestly and deeply disappointed and disturbed by the way things are running for Chase. This is soap opera style, not House-worthy. There must be more to this than torturing Dr. Chase for the rest of the season with guilt and angst.
Heck, who wants to see an abandoned husband who spared the world an evil man and is therefore left by his hippocrite wife because she didn’t have the guts to do it herself? It was so obvious that Cameron would have gladly let Dibala die. Chase would do it on her behalf, and she’s upset and is running away from him? I mean, hellooo?
I do hope we’ll be getting a flashback episode on The Tyrant a la The Mistake. The ep was hiding a lot more than it was actually showing what was going on.
Jesse Spencer is an extremely fine actor and is always a joy to watch. I love the chemistry between him and Hugh Laurie.
If Chase now goes down because he’s haunted by what he did, he might as well be a goner as Cameron – who IMHO acted way more suspicious in The Tyrant. I would have suspected her to have actually put Dibala to his death. Chase finds out and is protecting and covering for his wife. It would make sense, considering his fear of being left. Also, he has a background which should prevent him from taking decisions such as killing a man, even if it is for the sake of others. That would be so much more Cameron-like.
I only almost hope it turns out this way, considering the many nasty comments from fans that I read on House message boards these days. People see Chase as a cold blooded killer already who needs to be inprisoned or at least go through personal hell and experience mental break down. Hey. It’s a show, and it wasn’t exactely Mother Teresa who died. He’s not even proven guilty for all I know. He took the blame, but that is not necessarily bullet proof evidence.
They really should come up with a huge bombshell, and it better be an OK-situation for Chase since he is the one who stays on the show.
With all due respect, it makes me sick to think how they could ruin the Chase character, and if he turns out to be guilty, he’ll be doomed and will likely leave the show, too. Consider me gone by then, because I won’t watch the show without way-too-gorgeous Mr. Spencer anymore.