Chapter 16: Low EQ Foreman, High EQ David
House, arriving at the room, first asked Dan's parents to step into the hallway, leaving Cameron to stay with Dan.
After David closed the door, House's expression immediately darkened.
He said bluntly to Dan's parents:
"You two morons realize how much difficulty lying to a doctor causes for diagnosis?"
After a moment of stunned silence, Dan's father shot back angrily:
"We didn't hide anything!
On the contrary, during your examination, you even implied we abused our own kid!
You're a bastard!"
Seeing the confrontation escalating, Foreman—sensing his moment to shine—stepped forward and stopped the agitated father.
"Easy. Just listen. You're not the child's biological parents."
Hearing Foreman's words, Dan's mother appeared remarkably calm:
"Why would you say that? We are his biological parents!"
Dan's father opened his mouth to speak, but when he caught the look his wife gave him, he immediately shut up.
Foreman scoffed. These two were still playing games!
"The DNA comparison results say otherwise..."
Hearing the words "DNA comparison," Dan's mother's face transformed, and she erupted:
"Did you get our consent?!
Is it even legal for you to run DNA tests without authorization?!
I'm filing a complaint! I'm going to the media! We're transferring to another hospital immediately!
You unethical doctors—I'll make sure you're all held accountable!"
Suddenly under fire, Foreman seemed flustered, his eyes darting around nervously.
The moment he spotted David, his eyes lit up, and he quickly pointed:
"He did it! Nothing to do with the rest of us!
He stole your DNA. This intern did everything!
He's the one who told us the conclusion!
The attending physicians had nothing to do with it!"
Foreman's unexpected betrayal pushed all responsibility onto David.
Dan's mother immediately followed Foreman's pointing finger and glared at David.
She recognized this young, good-looking man as the one who'd handed her and her husband coffee earlier.
In other words, this guy really had stolen their DNA for testing!
Dan's mother's expression darkened, and just as she was about to unleash her fury, David spoke first:
"Hey, the DNA comparison thing was just bullshit I made up to win a bet.
Actually, the reason I determined Dan isn't your biological son is simple.
He has a cleft chin. Neither of you do."
"Cleft chin?"
Dan's mother looked at David skeptically.
Dan's father, however, looked thoughtful and touched his own chin.
David pointed to his own chin:
"You must've noticed your son's chin has an extra dimple in the middle compared to yours.
That's a cleft chin—an autosomal dominant trait.
Neither of you carries this dominant genetic marker.
That's how I concluded he's not your biological child.
As for the DNA comparison my colleague mentioned? Pure fabrication.
How could we possibly collect your DNA privately without consent?
That would violate HIPAA regulations.
Right, Foreman?"
Seeing David look over with a knowing smile, Foreman looked like he'd swallowed something bitter.
He'd originally thought it was finally his moment to shine.
But he'd forgotten that the DNA test they'd run was completely illegal.
He'd almost gotten himself forced to resign because of the angry mother.
Then he'd seen David and thought his blame-shifting move—which had earned him disgusted looks from his colleagues—was successful.
After all, it was the intern's fault. Even if something went wrong, just fire the intern.
Who knew David's mind worked this fast? He'd brought up the dominant genetic trait again, completely covering their rule violation.
Now, facing David's question, he still had to plaster on a fake smile and say "Right"!
Because the disapproving stares from his colleagues and superiors were practically killing him!
After this whole sequence of events, he'd basically screwed himself!
Compared to Foreman's forced smile, Dan's mother's expression had softened considerably.
Because the fact that Dan wasn't their biological son was indeed true, and the fact that Dan had a cleft chin was also undeniable.
These were physiological realities they couldn't change.
Dan's mother sighed softly:
"He is adopted, but he doesn't need to know. We've always treated him as our own."
David shook his head:
"But as physicians, we need to understand the complete family medical history.
It's crucial for an accurate diagnosis."
Dan's father said, confused:
"But we gave you detailed information about his birth mother?
She doesn't smoke, has low cholesterol, normal blood pressure—she's very healthy.
Plus, Dan was adopted at two weeks old.
You have the complete family medical history. We haven't hidden anything!"
Of course David knew they hadn't hidden anything.
He just needed these words to set up his next move.
He glanced at House, who was watching him intently, and continued:
"So, was Dan's birth mother vaccinated as a child?
As far as I know, many people believe vaccines are a century-long scam perpetrated by Big Pharma for profit.
So a lot of Americans refuse vaccinations..."
Before David could finish, Dan's father cut him off:
"Dan started getting vaccinated regularly at six months!"
David smiled:
"Of course, I know Dan's been vaccinated—we have his immunization records.
But do you know why the CDC recommends starting infant vaccinations at six months?
Because before six months, an infant relies entirely on passive immunity from the mother to fight diseases.
So I'm asking if his mother was vaccinated."
Dan's father opened his mouth but said nothing.
He genuinely hadn't known that infants depend on maternal immunity before six months.
He quickly said "hold on," pulled out his phone, stepped aside, and made a call.
Apparently Dan's father still had contact information for Dan's birth mother.
After a few minutes, Dan's father returned with a grim expression and shook his head at David.
Having gotten his answer, David turned to House:
"I think Dan contracted the measles virus during infancy.
During that period, he would've had a rash, been extremely irritable, cried inconsolably, and run a high fever.
But Dan never showed any of those symptoms. I suspect the measles virus mutated.
This mutated strain went dormant in his brain and has been hiding there for sixteen years."
After David finished, Foreman—who'd been somewhat zoned out—reflexively responded:
"That's Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis."
The moment he spoke, he realized he'd given the answer under David's guidance!
This realization made his pupils contract.
Just how extensive is David's knowledge base?!
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