HOUSE M.D. the indian M.O.

I am such a fanatic fan of House M.D. the weeekly telly serial, that I have withdrawal symptoms if I don't get to see it. His flamboyant, irreverent, brash mannerisms which disguise a sensitive man who plays the piano, strums a guitar, rides a Bike, misses his ex wife, and suffers with his limp.. alone with his Vicodin..

sigh...before I start drooling.

What I realised is that we as Indian doctors have a lot in common with the genius doctor.

We diagnose patients sometimes by starting treatment 'empirically' and that happens a lot of times among AMO's and medical officers in the PHC's and other primary health care setup's.. sometimes this' empirical' form of treating takes place in teaching hospitals too.. because either the diagnostic test is not available, or the the test is too expensive and the patient can't afford it.

So we say ' lets start treatment and , then if it doesn't work start something else.. relying on our clinical acumen, or plain good luck to throw up the diagnosis..'

In House 'empirical ' treatment is started because.. the patient has only 24 hours to live and the diagnostic test will take 48 hours ..so treat and watch :)...some times it works..or they are back to the whiteboard...:)

Another thing in common is how easily the patients allow house to carry out dangerous tests.. and how House manages to make pt's give consent to the most outrageous tasks ..like brain biopsies.. liver transplants..

Among Indian Medical Officers too , It's amazing how little a patient questions the doctor's authority. I heard once a surgeon asking for consent to amputate a leg..' pair katna padega..yahaan sign karo' simple as that..
(We will have to cut your leg off, sign here)

I enjoy House M.D. for his wit, caustic sarcasm, and brilliant diagnosis... but I wonder... was he working as a medical officer in some PHC in India before ?