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Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this show is a medical drama, generally dealing with life-threatening illnesses, often depicted graphically. Characters drink, smoke, curse, use drugs, get in arguments, violate rules, and lie. Characters routinely work their way around hospital regulations in order to save patients, a practice that raises complex moral dilemmas that may confuse younger viewers. Also, Dr. Gregory House's routine use of and possible addiction to painkillers is a recurring theme.

Families who watch can discuss the responsibility of doctors and medical professionals toward their patients. Is Dr. House's violation of hospital rules justified? What about his rudeness toward patients and peers? Viewers could also discuss the representation of the medical field, which in the show is often straightjacketed by bureaucratic regulations. How accurate is this representation?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Carly Kocurek

If you were permanently crippled because your doctor failed to diagnose your condition in time, you might be a little bitter. If you were a doctor working in the field of diagnostic medicine who had been permanently crippled because your doctor failed to diagnose your condition in time, you might be a little obsessive. You might also spend a lot of time taking painkillers and ranting about the incompetence of most doctors. Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) is just such a doctor.

HOUSE is a well-executed, high-production-values medical drama that follows the professional trials of Dr. House. He and his team play diagnostic detectives as they dig through patients' laundry, exhume deceased pets, and do whatever else it takes to find answers. House is an unlikely star of a TV medical drama. His bitterness surrounding his injury and losing the love of his life permeates the show. While saving the lives of patients, he browbeats his underlings, fights with his supervisors, all while terrorizing patients' friends and family. The show's gallows humor is prevalent throughout, as well as often-gripping medical detail -- House is not for squeamish viewers.

Adding to the generally exceptional production values, the cast is believable and compelling. As the title character, Hugh Laurie is strangely charismatic, drawing viewers in despite his surliness. Other standouts include Lisa Edelstein as Dr. Lisa Cuddy and Jennifer Morrison as Dr. Allison Cameron.

House is intelligent, well-executed programming that raises significant ethical questions. However, the show is not appropriate for children. The complexity of the show's moral issues could confuse young viewers, and the often graphic representations and discussions of medical trauma might be upsetting. Families who enjoy watching House may enjoy on DVD other medical dramas like ER, or The X Files, which shares House's obsession with investigating strange problems.

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Content
		CS	adults	kids
Sexual Content
Violence As with most modern medical/crime dramas, there are extreme close-ups of body parts and injuries.
Language Dr. House consistently berates his colleagues and patients.
Message
	Social Behavior Characters often violate rules and work outside the system.
	Commercialism
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Dr. House's reliance on prescription painkillers is a recurring topic.

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