"Charity Case" is the third episode of the eighth season of the American television medical drama series ''

House A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air c ...

'' and the 158th overall episode of the series. It aired on

Fox Foxes are small-to-medium-sized omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull; upright, triangular ears; a pointed, slightly upturned snout; and a long, bushy tail ("brush"). Twelve species ...

in the United States on October 17, 2011. It is also the penultimate episode with

Olivia Wilde Olivia Wilde (born Olivia Jane Cockburn, , March 10, 1984) is an American actress and director. She played Thirteen (House), Remy "Thirteen" Hadley on the medical-drama television series ''House (TV series), House'' (2007–2012), and appeared ...

as Dr. Remy Hadley (Thirteen). This episode seems loosely based on the American investor Zell Kravinsky, even using his quote that "to withhold a kidney from someone who would otherwise die means valuing one’s own life at 4,000 times that of a stranger".

Plot

Philanthropist Benjamin Byrd (

Wentworth Miller Wentworth Earl Miller III (born June 2, 1972) is an American actor known for playing the role of Michael Scofield in ''Prison Break'', for which he received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama in ...

) collapses outside of a training center for the homeless where he's made an incognito visit. When brought into Princeton Plainsboro, he offers a large payment to the hospital so that House will be able to reassemble his diagnostics team. Wilson is also placed in an ethical bind because Byrd offers a kidney to one of Wilson's needy patients. The team tries to determine whether Byrd's generosity is a symptom of mental instability, something confirmed when he offers his other kidney to

Thirteen Thirteen or 13 may refer to: * 13 (number) * Any of the years 13 BC, AD 13, 1913, or 2013 Music Albums * ''13'' (Black Sabbath album), 2013 * ''13'' (Blur album), 1999 * ''13'' (Borgeous album), 2016 * ''13'' (Brian Setzer album), 2006 * ...

and says he's willing to live on

dialysis Dialysis may refer to: * Dialysis (chemistry), a process of separating molecules in solution **Electrodialysis, used to transport salt ions from one solution to another through an ion-exchange membrane under the influence of an applied electric po ...

. Dr. Jessica Adams works with House on a volunteer basis. She and Dr. Park clash over both their diagnoses of the patient and Adams' insistence on giving the proud Park increasingly large gifts, finally paying for House's car repair under the impression that it is Park's car. House reaches out to the retired Thirteen. She aids him on the case and is nearly persuaded to return to the diagnostic team full-time. He then fires her so that she can go to Greece with her new girlfriend guilt-free.

Reception

This episode was watched by 8.34 million US viewers. ''

The A.V. Club ''The A.V. Club'' is an online newspaper and entertainment website featuring reviews, interviews, and other articles that examine films, music, television, books, games, and other elements of pop-culture media. ''The A.V. Club'' was created in ...

'' gave this episode a B rating.

Trivia

Because of this episode a Dutch man donated a kidney to a stranger in 2012.

References

External links

*
"Charity Case"
at Fox.com
Medical review of "Charity Case"
{{House (TV series) House season 8 episodes 2011 American television episodes Television episodes directed by Greg Yaitanes Television episodes written by Sara Hess