The final 10 candidates are put to the test when House splits them into gender groups. Each team is assigned to accurately diagnose and treat a man with muscular atrophy who is slowly suffocating. Complications arise when one team treats the patient, but doesn't make sure their treatment was executed.

Meanwhile, as the teams work, House conducts experiments on himself to see how it feels and what occurs in the moments when a person is in between life and death.