I love television. I watch way too much of it. If you ever saw any of what I wrote during my brief tenure as the Reality TV Guide here at BellaOnline, you'd know that I am NOT exaggerating.

Last night, I was watching "House", FOX's highly touted and critically acclaimed new medical drama - with a twist. It's supposed to bring an investigative slant to diagnosing strange diseases. (Sort of like an Infectious Disease CSI or something)

Before I delve into my complaint, I have to say this. Overall, I like the show. It's well-done and well-written.

However...

I understand that the basic premise has Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) playing a brilliant doctor with no people skills. He'd rather "deal with disease, not people." He is a jerk and he admits it. He has no bedside manner.

I understand this.

Unfortunately, as I'm watching and thoroughly enjoying this intelligent show, I was very upset by something.

At one point, House is working in a clinic (forcibly, I understand, by his boss). A man comes in and says, he's got "Chronic Fatigue." House asks him what makes him think that.

The man says, "I'm tired all the time." He also complains of periodic headaches.

Okay! I don't believe the man has CFS anymore than the doctor does....HOWEVER!
House tells him no.

The guy says, "well, maybe I have Fibromyalgia!"

House tells him it's great that he's diagnosing himself FROM INFO ON THE INTERNET!

He proceeds to get the man some 'pills'. They're a placebo. He puts candy in the man's 'prescription bottle.'

*He never palpated him for tenderness.
*He never took any tests.
*He sent the man away.

**The show seemed to make light of these diseases.
**The show made the character look like a ridiculous hypochrondriac.

Many of us have had this scene played out for us in REAL LIFE, haven't we?

It concerns me that the first character on network TV that I saw with FMS or CFS potentially (but not probably) was turned into a joke.

I know that it seems like I'm making a big deal out of it, but it is a big deal. I think that:

a) there is certainly a belief in the world that FMS and CFS are not "REAL" conditions. We know this is not true.

b) there is also a belief that those of us with these conditions make too much of it, or are just hypochondriacs called by a fancier medical name.

Both of these statements were supported by the portrayal on this new television show. It's unfair and well, I'm tired of it.

I would like House to stay on the air. I just would hope that, in the future, the series writers and producers, will try harder to make people with real conditions look less like they're only around to provide comic relief.

They're already talking about this at the House Official Show message board. You can also email FOX directly at askfox@foxinc.com

I, for one, am disgusted by the ignorance I see there. Please sound off!