The doctors of the University Hospital of Marburg (Germany) diagnosed a patient thanks to the House series. The patient began to find himself wrong in mid -2011, with 54 years: he began to lose hearing, he also lost vision, and a persistent fever occurred without any infection being found. The fever did not send, and was pilgrimage of doctor in doctor for more than a year. He was diagnosed with a malfunction of the thyroid gland and an inflammation of the esophagus caused by acids from the stomach. In May 2012 he was on the verge of death. He entered the University Hospital of Marburg (Germany) with a serious heart failure, although after the tests they had to rule out any coronary heart disease. At that time I was already practically blind and deaf.
It was then that Juergen Schaefer, director of the Center for Non -Diagnosed Diseases of the Hospital, recalled an episode of the House series, in which a woman has a heart problem and several seemingly unconnected symptoms. In the series, Dr. House concludes that the woman suffers a cobalt poisoning due to a defective hip prosthesis. And, in effect, the Marburg patient also had a metal hip prosthesis made with cobalt. This prosthesis was damaged, and the blood cobalt level multiplied by a thousand the maximum recommended level. With that diagnosis, the implant was replaced by a new ceramic prosthesis.
Dr. Schaefer, who declares himself a fan of House, began using the series in his classes five years ago. The experience was so successful that in 2010 he received the Ars Legendi Award as best medical professor in Germany.
Above the eternal debate among supporters of professional efficacy above all in front of those who believe in the right treatment towards people above any other aspect (a house would be desirable that, in addition to being a genius, knew how to treat people), the reflection we can make revolved around the usefulness of the media. We are too accustomed, for example, to criticize television and almost all its channels and programs: we say that it attaches us, favors sedentary lifestyle, cancels critical thinking and has no use.
But the problem is not of television, but ours: ours is the responsibility of putting the limits. Because, seen from the positive side, television is an excellent tool not only for entertainment, but also for the promotion of culture or the development of intelligence. And even, in extreme cases, you can save someone's lives. Thanks, Doctor House.
