Martha Chase

Lore & Background

Before joining the hospital, Chase had committed financial fraud to secure funding for her brother's medical treatment, resulting in a criminal record that initially barred her from practicing medicine. She managed to clear her name and earn her license, but this history remained a secret until House uncovered it during an investigation into her own undisclosed health issues. Her relationship with House was volatile yet intimate, built on mutual respect for intelligence and a shared understanding of pain. While she often clashed with the rest of the team due to her guarded nature, she proved herself invaluable in diagnosing difficult cases that stumped even the most experienced specialists.

Reader's Guide

Dr. Martha Chase served as a diagnostician on the Department of Diagnostic Medicine team during its fourth and fifth years under Gregory House's leadership. Known for her sharp intellect and calm demeanor, she often clashed with colleagues due to her guarded nature regarding her personal history. Her medical expertise was undeniable, yet she carried the weight of a criminal past involving financial fraud committed to save her brother's life. This secret created significant tension within the group once uncovered by House himself.

Chase developed a complex professional and romantic dynamic with House, characterized by mutual intellectual attraction and frequent conflict. She struggled to maintain boundaries while navigating his manipulative tactics and her own desire for redemption. Her tenure included solving difficult cases alongside colleagues like Foreman, Taub, and Cameron, though she eventually departed the hospital to pursue other opportunities after House's departure from the department.

Despite leaving the team, her legacy remained as a capable physician who challenged the status quo. She represented the struggle between professional ambition and personal morality within the high-stakes environment of Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. Her character arc highlighted themes of forgiveness and the cost of keeping secrets in a profession built on trust.

Did You Know?

• Dr. Remy 'Thirteen' Hadley was played by Olivia Wilde, not a character named Martha Chase.
• Dr. Remy 'Thirteen' Hadley took a leave of absence for most of season seven, and her position was filled by medical student Martha M. Masters (Amber Tamblyn).
• Dr. Remy 'Thirteen' Hadley was part of House's diagnostic team during seasons four through seven, not a character named Martha Chase.