The cat who could smell death

This week's episode of House featured a cat who predicted patient death, indicated by who she chose to nap with.

We've hear of dogs that can sniff out tumours but a cat that can sniff out people at death's door? The House episode is reminiscent of a "Perspective" piece published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2007 [pdf] about one Oscar the cat at a Rhode Island care facility.

Oscar the Cat has had an uncanny ability to predict when residents are about to die. Thus far, he has presided over the deaths of more than 25 residents on the third floor of Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence, Rhode Island. His mere presence at the bedside is viewed by physicians and nursing home staff as an almost absolute indicator of impending death, allowing staff members to adequately notify families.

Unlike House's typical last minute stroke of genius, no concrete explanation is given for Oscar's 'predictions'. Still, the staff seem convinced of his powers. Is there something to it, or just a classic case of confirmation bias?

Incidentally, if you're interested in a doctor's take House's weekly mystery, check out this blog.

House of Psycedelic Drugs

I hate the TV show House. Not because I find that it's innaccurate as lots of people do. It's just the character of House is so abbrasive. Someone needs to punch him and then kick him in his bad leg while he's down. The wife enjoys House and therefore I am forced to endure some of it. Last episode House gave a young patient mushrooms (psilocybin) for cluster headaches. Pardon? Apparently phycedelic drugs are useful for cluster headaches. The Multidisciplinary Association for Psycedelic Studies (MAPS) is all about encouraging research into these popular recreational drugs for treatment of some medical conditions. In addition to psilocybin for cluster headaches there is marijuana for chronic wasting disease and ecstasy (MDMA) for post tramatic stress disorder (PTSD). Here is a great Nature article on the founder of MAPS and other info on psycedelic therapies. While some of the stuff on the MAPS website is super sketchy (like this account of a mother and son peyote trip as a right of passage) and I was initially very skeptical about this avenue of research however there probably is some really good research that can be done in this area if it wasn't for laws about limiting access to 'fun' recreational drugs. There is no denying their bioactivity and compared to some approved drugs probably have less toxicity. So before I have to deal with another House episode perhaps I should make sure that I'm well prepared for the inevitable induction of a House induced cluster headache.