Deception

A woman collapses at an OTB facility that House frequents, and he soon finds himself doing battle with his new boss (Foreman!) over her treatment. Foreman has become House's temporary boss in the aftermath of "The Mistake." And Foreman's well-known prejudice against street people and low lifes comes into play when he suspects the woman's motives. Much of the appeal of this episode is due to the actress playing the stricken woman, the lovely and talented Cynthia Nixon. She is highly convincing as a woman who may or may not be deathly ill, and causes House to get personally involved for a change. They have a great scene together in the third act while seated on a park bench in snowy weather. Wilson meanwhile digs himself into an increasingly deeper hole as he moves in with House.

This is so far fetched. I agree with the reviewer who points out that the continuous use of hospitals and the draining of tens of thousands of dollars would not go unnoticed. Imagine the bill she rolled up just at House's hospital. I've had medical issues at times. As soon as you get into surgery or require a bed, let alone the ICU, you are looking at a second mortgage or more. This woman would be interrogated by a staff agent to find out how she was going to pay the bill. This is still a business, not a charity. It doesn't mean she wouldn't be treated, but since it's Munchausens, her name would be sent off to every hospital around. She is basically a criminal or, at the very least, a basket case. House uses extortion to get her operated on.

I also find Foreman really tiresome. The person Cuddy should have chosen to keep track of House should not have been someone who has been in a subordinate role. This, to me, is a throwaway episode, even though it is fun fiction.