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15 Years Ago, ‘House’ Aired an Episode That Helped Save a Man’s Life

A German doctor linked a patient’s mysterious symptoms to cobalt poisoning after remembering a similar case on ‘House.’

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In the Season 7 House episode “Family Practice,” Candice Bergen guest stars as Dr. Cuddy’s mother, Arlene, who’s admitted to the Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital after complaining of strange symptoms. Over the course of a decade and a half, Arlene says she’s been dealing with an elusive disease that’s caused everything from diarrhea to heart palpitations. Dr. House (Hugh Laurie) is initially dismissive of Arlene’s claims, but eventually decides to take her case.

In the end, House discovers that........

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