She seems as fond of the jerk as most viewers, despite the liberties he takes with her profession, and believes that in another sense, House the limited human being reveals the humanity at the heart of medicine.
"I think the great thing about House and other medical shows on television is that they show the human side of doctors," she said. "He often uses observations about real life – sometimes it comes from his own life, sometimes it comes from a case. But it shows that thinking just about the facts is not the only way to get to an answer. It's often not the best way to get to an answer."
She recounted the story of baseball great Lou Gehrig, whose ALS remained undiagnosed until he simply walked into the office of a Mayo Clinic physician whose mother had suffered from the same disease.
"Medicine is not this isolated category that lives separately," Sanders emphasized. "It's part of the texture of life, and I think one of the great things about House is he shows that intersection between life and medicine."
House's last episodes until the Writers Guild of America strike is resolved will air on Fox Tuesday, January 29 at 9 p.m., Sunday, February 3 after the Superbowl, and Tuesday, February 5 at p.m.
Article comments
1 - Namaste
Thanks for the interviews, DK. It's good to get the point of view of the people who are medical professionals out there -- and who have nitpicked with the best -- and to know that they appreciate the difference between reality and entertainment as well. I do agree that it's sometimes a wide gulf, but I always say that if I want reality, I'll watch Discovery Health (and even reality is heavily edited).
2 - Diane Kristine
Hi Namaste, good to "see" you. I agree, and it's funny that we seem to expect more from a medical drama than a cop show or show set in an office, for example. There's not a lot of accuracy about any workplace you see on TV.
3 - Mary K. Williams
This was very, very good Diana. Glad you're keeping track of the good Dr. still.
4 - Phillip Winn
If work environments were realistically portrayed on television, what would be the point of watching? We could just go to work!
Real-life hospitals are fascinating at first, then dreadfully boring most of the time. A TV show has to remain interesting 17 hours a year for as many years as it can. I've watched 79 episodes of House and I'm still interested. I can't imagine still being fascinated after 55 hours of observing a real hospital.
5 - Karen Smith
Thank you Diane for a well written, very insightful look at the BEST show on television. Great job!