12. Sports Medicine

A severely broken arm reveals a bizarre case of bone loss and ends the comeback plans of major league pitcher Hank Wiggen. House suspects Hank is lying about using steroids as his condition worsens. When Hank's kidneys start to fail, his wife offers to donate hers, but she would have to abort her early pregnancy. Forced into an impossible solution and admitting failure as an addict, Hank tries to take his own life. House and his team must soon isolate and fix the problem if this pitcher's life and career can be saved. Meanwhile, Foreman dates a pharmaceutical representative, and House is stuck with two tickets and goes on a "date" with Cameron to a monster truck rally.

Plot summary and ending

Spoilers ahead. Coverage follows the scope labeled below.

Complete story — includes the ending

A severely broken arm reveals a bizarre case of bone loss and ends the comeback plans of major league pitcher Hank Wiggen ( Scott Foley ). House suspects Hank – with a history of drug abuse – is lying about using steroids, as his condition worsens. When Hank's kidneys start to fail, his wife ( Meredith Monroe ) offers to donate hers, but she will have to abort her early pregnancy, something Hank does not want. Eventually House finds out the wife suffers from loss of smell, indicating the pair have smoked cannabis which was grown on cadmium polluted soil. Meanwhile, Foreman dates a pharmaceutical representative and House goes to a monster truck rally with Cameron.
This episode features a cameo appearance by the series' director and executive producer Bryan Singer. Final diagnosis: Cadmium poisoning

Sources and content license

Source and revision history · Adapted from Wikipedia contributors, House season 1. HTML formatting and reference markers removed. · Content license