The Choice (House)

Plot

The team treats Ted, a groom-to-be who fainted at his wedding after experiencing aphasia. House pricks him with a needle, and Ted says 'ow,' leading House to suspect he is faking to avoid marriage. However, Ted is found to have a pleural effusion upon discharge. Thirteen and Taub visit Ted's previous residence, where the owner Cotter claims to be Ted's ex-boyfriend of three years.

Ted tests negative for HIV/AIDS. He tells Thirteen he underwent 'treatment' to become heterosexual, including electroconvulsive therapy and injections of various chemicals. The chemicals may explain the pleural effusion, and the ECT could have caused head trauma. During an EKG, Ted has a heart attack.

Foreman orders an angiogram, but Ted faints whenever he sits up and stabilizes when lying down. House suspects postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Cotter visits while Ted sleeps, and Nicole asks him to leave. Nicole confronts Ted, who admits he used to think he was gay but insists he is now straight.

Ted then develops a severe headache. House suspects infection; Taub suggests a cerebral infection that could cause headaches and POTS, possibly spreading to the heart if fungal. A spinal tap is performed, but Ted tests negative for infections and his headaches worsen. House believes the spinal tap caused a leak, lowering brain pressure and causing POTS. Ted's face then twists in a strange way, indicating it is not POTS.

Response

The episode drew 9.982 million viewers in the US, placing 22nd for the week. Critical response was mostly favorable. Unrealityshout.com praised it as House’s sharpest outing in weeks, noting the season had flagged but this installment redeemed it. IGN rated it an “Impressive” 8.4, highlighting its layered themes and an ironically satisfying diagnosis. TVFanatic gave it 4.2 out of 5, calling it a “solid episode.”