1x04 Maternity - House M.D. Episode Guide

House M.D.

- Episode 01x04

Episode: 01x04
Title: Maternity
Type: Regular Episode
Production Code: HOU-104
First Aired: Dec. 07, 2004

Season 1 » Episode #04 - Maternity

Summary: After two newborns in Princeton Plainsboro's maternity ward fall ill, House takes on the case. Soon the illness has spread to six babies, all of which have high fevers and low blood pressure which could mean that these newborns will die in less than a day. House wants to test which medicine works better, by putting one of the babies on a different medicine, despite the fact that this experiment may have a fatal effect, which angers Dr. Cameron and the rest of the specialists.

Who appeared in this episode?

Guest Stars:

Karen Hartig	played by Ever Carradine
Jill	played by Hedy Burress
Hospital Attorney	played by Cress Williams
Lupino	played by Melissa Marsala
Kim Chen	played by Alexandra Bokyun Chun
Dr. Lim	played by Kenneth Choi
Dr. Kubisak	played by Benjamin John Parrillo
Ethan Hartig	played by Sam Trammell
Charlie	played by Dwight Armstrong

	Season 1 / Episode 4: - Maternity Dr. Gregory House: [clinic patient is unaware she is pregnant; House tells her she has a parasite] Don't worry. Many women learn to embrace this parasite. They name it, dress it up in tiny clothes, arrange playdates with other parasites. Jill: Playdates? Dr. Gregory House: [shows her the ultrasound] It has your eyes.
	Season 1 / Episode 4: - Maternity Dr. Gregory House: Get up. We are going hunting. Dr. Eric Foreman: For what? Dr. Gregory House: Wabbits.

[More Quotes]

MISTAKES/GOOFS

FACT: While generating a list of possible viruses that are causing the disease in the newborns, Wilson reports that ribavirin, the first-line antiviral for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), was ineffective, which should rule out RSV as the likely cause of the present illness. But Cuddy eliminates herpesvirus instead, and later on RSV is actually added to the list.
CHAR: When listing possible causes for the infection early on, the team quickly rules out viruses and parasites, leading them to conclude that the infection is due to bacteria. They never considered fungi.
FAIR: When House and his team are listing viruses that might be causing the infants' infection, they rule out the herpesvirus family, but cite cytomegalovirus as a possibility. Cytomegalovirus is a member of the herpesvirus family (human herpesvirus 5). However, Cuddy's rationale is that the virus in question is resistant to acyclovir, which is used specifically to treat the herpes simplex viruses (and, hence, House writes "HSV" under the "No" column). CMV is not treatable with acyclovir and so it is still a valid possibility.
FACT: One of the infants is stated to have a blood pressure of 80/40 and that it's dangerously low. In fact, this is well within standard range for a newborn.
CONT: When Dr. House says that he is is performing a delivery in March, another doctor claims that March is "five months from now". However, earlier when House audiotapes an autopsy on the Cheng-Lupino baby, he says "...December 2004". March is THREE months from December.