Ep 11. Family Practice

In House season 7 episode 11, titled "Family Practice," the team at Princeton Plainsboro must manage a complex case involving a patient named Caren (played by guest star Cynthia Watros) and her family. Caren is a successful banker who collapses while at work, and it quickly becomes clear that her symptoms are related to her family history. Caren's father, grandfather, and great-grandfather all died young from heart disease, and her mother and sister have both had heart attacks. However, Caren is adopted and knows nothing about her biological family's medical history.

As they work to diagnose Caren's illness, the team has to navigate the delicate politics of her family dynamics. Caren's biological mother, Emma, contacts the hospital hoping to meet her daughter for the first time. Caren is initially reluctant to meet Emma, but as her condition worsens and her adoptive family struggles to provide the medical information necessary for her treatment, Caren begins to consider reaching out to her birth mother.

Meanwhile, House is dealing with his own family issues. His mother, Blythe, asks House to help her plan her upcoming wedding to her boyfriend, Thomas Bell. House is less than thrilled about the idea of his mother remarrying, and he struggles to keep his bitterness in check as he tries to support her. However, when Blythe reveals that Thomas has terminal cancer, House is forced to confront his feelings about his own mortality and the impermanence of life.

As the tension between the two families mounts, the team races against time to discover the root cause of Caren's illness. Along the way, they learn valuable lessons about the importance of family history, the power of forgiveness, and the intricacies of love and loss. With trademark wit and heart, House season 7 episode 11 "Family Practice" is a captivating exploration of the many ways in which our families shape our lives.