Posted also in the media thread, but Dr. Lisa Sanders, the doctor and NYTimes writer of the "Diagnosis" column was interviewed on NPR's Fresh Air about her new book on problems with diagnosis. It's all kind of interesting (lots of tidbits on how people get it wrong, including one anecdote in which a doctor trying to be kind to a patient ended up setting himself up to miss an easy diagnosis) and minutes 12-16 deal more with her interactions with the show, how she consults with the writers, etc. She also said that the moment in "The Itch" in which the patient catches on fire during abdominal surgery was inspired by a real life explosion due to internal gasses at her own hospital.

I was struck by what she thought was one of the most important changes that should be made in health care--allowing doctors the time to "think" instead of putting the emphasis on "doing." I made me remember all the times we see House alone and thinking...staring at the whiteboard, twirling his cane, playing with his ball, etc. Or just simply sitting, while the camera work almost allows us to see inside his mind. (Of course, the hallucinations of Amber often showed his internal dialogue.)

Too bad thinking is not billable time.

From msnbc today...wonder if the writers know about this...can you just hear House now? Allergic to sex. Excerpts Ever heard of the young woman who went off on her honeymoon full of sweet anticipation only to develop hives, swollen eyes, diarrhea, an inflammation of the lining of the rectum and trouble breathing? Turns out she was allergic to her new husband’s seminal fluid. True story. ... More good news: The treatment can include instructions to have intercourse at least every 48 hours to maintain the resistance. There are worse therapies.

In Safe they thought Melinda might be allergic to Dan's semen and had him provide a specimen for them to test.

I have a specific question : do you know how they built up patient cases? A friend of mine has set up a collection of her more striking cases (she's working in internal medicine) and was wondering if the show accepts contribution on cases ideas. I have to say I don't have a clue about this. Does anyone know?

Some of their cases come from Lisa Sanders, who writes the Diagnosis column in the New York Times and also wrote "Every Patient Has A Story" about dianosing.

In general, TPTB at a show can't read unsolicited submissions because they might end up being sued for plagiarism if they come up with anything similar. For a doctor submitting an odd presentation for a disease, rather than a plot, etc., it might be different. Doesn't Sara Hess have an "ask me anything" account? I don't remember the url but maybe you could ask her.

Doctor Lisa Sanders has a new book on problems with a diagnosis. She really has a Medicine of House and critical care jobs. She can help every people who are diagnosed to have some health problems.