Ch 25 Six extra hours
Soon after Mary left, House headed back to his office. The ducklings were all gathered in the conference room, occupying themselves as they always did.
"How's the patient?" House inquired as he limped into the room.
"She's stable," replied Cameron. "Her white cell count is up but it's too soon to tell if the treatment is working yet."
"The drugs will work," House declared. "They have to."
Suddenly, Wilson, Mary and Cuddy flew into the conference room.
"Why is my daughter getting anti-AIDS drugs?" Mary demanded.
"House you better have a d--- good reason to be giving antiretrovirals as part of an invented treatment plan I wasn't informed of!" Cuddy was extremely mad.
"House, you didn't properly inform the patient about the drugs she would be treated with!" accused Wilson. House took a deep breath and faced his accusers, addressing his replies to each one in turn. "Your daughter is getting anti-retrovirals, which do more than just combat AIDS, to help cure her polio," he informed Mary very calmly. "Sorry boss. Didn't think I needed to tell you about treating a patient," he told Cuddy with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "I did tell the patient and his mother she would be receiving 'ART'. In all the confusion, no one asked me what that was. I didn't explain it because I thought you knew what it was," he told Wilson with an honest-sounding innocence. But something in his voice told Wilson he had planned it this way. Mary and Wilson both looked like they had more to say, But Cuddy beat them to it.
"Anytime you try anything that is in the slightest bit experimental, I need to know House,"Cuddy exclaimed, her voice rising. "If things like this go on behind my back, you, I and this hospital will be in serious trouble." Wilson was still peeved,
"House, I'd love to hear the medical rationale behind using ART as a treatment for polio!"
"In some small studies, ART was shown to increase white cell counts, especially in health workers who were given it prophylactically after AIDS scares. Higher white cell counts give her a better chance of fighting off the polio," House explained.
The ducklings were carefully staying out of it, quietly hidden at the table, pretending not to pay attention. Wilson and Mary seemed reasonably satisfied with House's explanation and excused themselves. Cuddy, however, stayed back.
"For this little incident, House, you owe me six extra hours of clinic duty. Kindly inform me of all future 'clinical trials' you plan to conduct." Cuddy said, a fake-sweet smile plastered on her face so that it looked a little evil. "Have a nice day," she said to House and the ducklings as she swept from the room.