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Pointed out that, in reality, there is no evidence that colchicine is used to cut ecstasy.
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House develops a theory which is very unlikely to occur. House believes that Brandon has a [[sinus infection]] and [[hypothyroidism]] at the same time. House makes a bet with [[Dr. Eric Foreman|Foreman]] that if Brandon's white blood cell goes up (meaning he is fighting off an infection), he wins. It turns out that Brandon's white blood cell count drops. His damaged immune system leaves him vulnerable to the simplest infections.
House develops a theory which is very unlikely to occur. House believes that Brandon has a [[sinus infection]] and [[hypothyroidism]] at the same time. House makes a bet with [[Dr. Eric Foreman|Foreman]] that if Brandon's white blood cell goes up (meaning he is fighting off an infection), he wins. It turns out that Brandon's white blood cell count drops. His damaged immune system leaves him vulnerable to the simplest infections.


While talking to Wilson, House starts a new theory that Brandon's cough medicine was accidentally replaced with the [[gout]] medicine, [[colchicine]]. The gout medicine stops [[mitosis]], so Brandon's [[immune system]] can't replenish itself as the cells die. However, closer examination of the cough medicine disproves House's theory, because the medicine is not for gout. Displeased, he then says [[colchicine]] came from [[illegal drugs]]. Brandon admits to using [[MDMA|ecstasy]], which could have been cut with colchicine. House, however, still believes in his previous theory and raids the pharmacy looking for a form of colchicine that comes in a pill form that is similar to the cough medicine pill. [[Robert Chase|Chase]] and Cameron discover from Brandon that his old cough medicine looked subtly different from some genuine cough medicine that they provide while House discovers a colchicine pill that looks remarkably similar to the cough medicine pills.
While talking to Wilson, House starts a new theory that Brandon's cough medicine was accidentally replaced with the [[gout]] medicine, [[colchicine]]. The gout medicine stops [[mitosis]], so Brandon's [[immune system]] can't replenish itself as the cells die. However, closer examination of the cough medicine disproves House's theory, because the medicine is not for gout. Displeased, he then says [[colchicine]] came from [[illegal drugs]]. Brandon admits to using [[MDMA|ecstasy]], which could have been cut with colchicine (This is strictly a plot device. In reality, the presence of colchicine in ecstasy tablets is highly unlikely<ref>In February 2008, there were 1572 reports on "ecstasy" pill composition at [http://www.ecstasydata.org/results.php EcstasyData.org]. None indicate the presence of colchicine.</ref><ref>A February 2008 search of "colchicine and (mdma or ecstasy)" on [http://www.pubmed.org PubMed] revealed no publications indicating the presence of colchicine in illegally manufactured ecstasy.</ref>). House, however, still believes in his previous theory and raids the pharmacy looking for a form of colchicine that comes in a pill form that is similar to the cough medicine pill. [[Robert Chase|Chase]] and Cameron discover from Brandon that his old cough medicine looked subtly different from some genuine cough medicine that they provide while House discovers a colchicine pill that looks remarkably similar to the cough medicine pills.


The title of the episode is borne out in that a very likely condition, a cold, combined with a somewhat unlikely mistreatment, the pharmacy error, lead to a collection of conditions which could only be explained by a far more unlikely combination of [[maladies]]. The cause, though difficult to envisage, was actually the simplest and most likely of those that they had considered, thus conforming to Occam's Razor.
The title of the episode is borne out in that a very likely condition, a cold, combined with a somewhat unlikely mistreatment, the pharmacy error, lead to a collection of conditions which could only be explained by a far more unlikely combination of [[maladies]]. The cause, though difficult to envisage, was actually the simplest and most likely of those that they had considered, thus conforming to Occam's Razor.

Revision as of 23:45, 2 February 2008

Template:House (TV series) episode "Occam's Razor" is the third episode of the first season of House, which premiered on the FOX network on November 30 2004. Occam's razor is mentioned several times in the episode, as well as being the title of the episode itself.

Plot

Brandon and his fiancée are having sex in their house when Brandon suddenly passes out. A quick examination by House and his team reveal cough, severe abdominal pain, nausea, low blood pressure, and fever. Cameron says one disease cannot cause all of the symptoms.

House develops a theory which is very unlikely to occur. House believes that Brandon has a sinus infection and hypothyroidism at the same time. House makes a bet with Foreman that if Brandon's white blood cell goes up (meaning he is fighting off an infection), he wins. It turns out that Brandon's white blood cell count drops. His damaged immune system leaves him vulnerable to the simplest infections.

While talking to Wilson, House starts a new theory that Brandon's cough medicine was accidentally replaced with the gout medicine, colchicine. The gout medicine stops mitosis, so Brandon's immune system can't replenish itself as the cells die. However, closer examination of the cough medicine disproves House's theory, because the medicine is not for gout. Displeased, he then says colchicine came from illegal drugs. Brandon admits to using ecstasy, which could have been cut with colchicine (This is strictly a plot device. In reality, the presence of colchicine in ecstasy tablets is highly unlikely[1][2]). House, however, still believes in his previous theory and raids the pharmacy looking for a form of colchicine that comes in a pill form that is similar to the cough medicine pill. Chase and Cameron discover from Brandon that his old cough medicine looked subtly different from some genuine cough medicine that they provide while House discovers a colchicine pill that looks remarkably similar to the cough medicine pills.

The title of the episode is borne out in that a very likely condition, a cold, combined with a somewhat unlikely mistreatment, the pharmacy error, lead to a collection of conditions which could only be explained by a far more unlikely combination of maladies. The cause, though difficult to envisage, was actually the simplest and most likely of those that they had considered, thus conforming to Occam's Razor.

References

  1. ^ In February 2008, there were 1572 reports on "ecstasy" pill composition at EcstasyData.org. None indicate the presence of colchicine.
  2. ^ A February 2008 search of "colchicine and (mdma or ecstasy)" on PubMed revealed no publications indicating the presence of colchicine in illegally manufactured ecstasy.
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