5. Mirror Mirror

The team takes on the case of a man who collapsed while being mugged. When the man complains of new symptoms that do not fit his initial admission profile, the team suspects he is a hypochondriac. As Mr. X continues to fall ill with symptoms unrelated to his neurological disorder, Foreman and the remaining six fellows are assigned to keep watch, and are bemused as they see their own behavioral idiosyncrasies reflected through him.

Plot summary and ending

Spoilers ahead. Coverage follows the scope labeled below.

Complete story — includes the ending

Foreman returns to Princeton-Plainsboro and is assigned to oversee House's candidates. A man ( Frank Whaley ) is mugged and suffers from a respiratory arrest. Though he has no memories of who he is, he can read the personality of the most dominant person in the room, applying it to himself to create a temporary identity. This is due to a rare disease known as Giovannini Mirror Syndrome. House becomes intrigued by the accuracy of this judge of character and manipulates the patient to judge others, while a team member wonders if House is more dominant than Cuddy. Final diagnosis: Eperythrozoon infection (resulting from exposure to pig feces )

Sources and content license

Source and revision history · Adapted from Wikipedia contributors, House season 4. HTML formatting and reference markers removed. · Content license