Some European hospitals have diagnostics specialists, but it's not standard, no. The explanation either David Shore or Katie Jacobs gave one time -- which is highly plausible -- is that teaching hospitals frequently create depatments for highly valued staff members. For instance, pediatric cardiac surgery is an in demand specialty. To get a top surgeon -- and the additional cases for that -- a teaching hospital could create an entire department around that surgeon, who would then take on fellows and teach his/her techniques to them.

Namaste, that's really interesting. Thanks. Ok, I have a question - please don't I assume I'm a complete idiot and bare in mind that 1. English is not my native language and 2. cultural differences, although a beautiful thing, can be very confusing :D Umm.. why is House talking about threesomes and foursomes with Stacy in The Mistake? Stacy: What'd you do to him? House: The hospital lawyer asks me if I did something unethical. If I did, the last person I tell is the hospital lawyer, especially since she's gone all 'old testament' on me. Stacy: You'll tell me. House: Oh. Ok then. One caveat, I've moved past threesomes. I'm now into foursomes. If someone backs out then you've still got a threesome. If two people back out, you're still having sex. You'd be amazed. Even if three people-- Is he just blabbering on to annoy her or is there another point to it? :shock:

I think he's just trying to annoy her at that point, or it could be a reference to her having been unfaithful to him toward the end of their relationship, after the infarction. But, yeah, I've wondered about that from time to time, too.

I have wondered that EVERY TIME I WATCH THE EP! I'm not kiding, I have thought of it so many times and here's my only explanation: the writer wanted to write it as he (peter blake) thought it was funny and he had no where to put it (maybe a speech he's been wanting to use on the show forever) and then he finally shoe horned it in in a place/episode that he though best suited, but in fact not at all.

I thought it was funny, and very House-like in terms of a comment that he'd use to annoy someone, since this is a guy who jokes about hookers regularly. *shrugs* And ironic, since the only time House has had sex in terms of what we've seen was with Stacy and with a hooker. Threesomes and foursomes aren't exactly on his calender.

I didn't know what a Reuben was either and couldn't be bothered to look it up. Thanks for the link, that looks gross. bailey was right. House has called Wilson his friend several times and his buddy twice, but he's only called him his "best friend" twice (and one of those times was sarcastic). Wilson called himself House's best friend in 'The Mistake'. House called himself Wilson's best friend in 'Resignation', but Wilson has never said that House is his best friend. He always just says "friend". I have no idea why I remember all that. Re the sex speech, I thought that House was just trying to annoy Stacy to get her to shut up and stop interrogating him. Just like responding "I'm gay" when she asked what she was hiding.

Not exactly the question asked but: Stacy, Cuddy, and Foreman have all referenced that Wilson is House's only friend. If you've only got one friend, by default that guy's got to be your "best."

I don't think the threesome/foursome speech has any deep hidden meaning but it struck me like this: House, being House, wanting to distract and/or annoy Stacy is obviously going to talk about some racy, inappropriate sex thing. House and Stacy were lovers, Stacy is now married to Mark: House+Stacy+ Mark equals a threesome but as House always has to ratchet everything up a notch, he naturally announces that a threesome won't do, he's on to foursomes now. FWIW. :wink:

True, dee, but has House ever admitted that Wilson is his only friend? I'm not being sarcastic, it's a serious question. In 'Sports Medicine' he didn't want to admit it.

In Resignation House says to Wilson 'No one writes tamoxifen like you' and Wilson replies 'Well I use a G'. Does anyone know what this means? I've searched the internet from top to bottom but to no avail - is it just drivel?

It's a cancer drug. Wilson was joking in his answer, because it doesn't have a g in its name.

Thanks Taiga. I know it's a drug but I thought there might have been some point to this exchange that I was missing...but obviously not!

Another question altogether (maybe this thread isn't really the right place for it, but then surely one of our Friendly Mods will intervene), did any of you guys read that book "The medical science of House M.D." by Andrew Holtz? And if so, how did you like it? I just finished it today!

No! I never even heard of it! Do tell! Is it good? Or a total fantasy because there isn't a whole whole lot of real medical science on the show, is ther? Or maybe it's better than I think? Must look that up! Not a mod but maybe in the media thread--books are one of the media ya know!--though it's fine here with me. :wink:

The media thread probably would be better for that discussion :D Taiga - I don't think House has ever said that Wilson is his only friend, but the exchange in Sports Medicine kind of implies it. I love that exchange - House: What? You're saying I've only got one friend? Wilson: Uh... and... who...? House: Kevin. In bookkeeping. Wilson: Okay, well, first of all, his name's Karl... House: I call him Kevin. It's his secret friendship club name.