The most unrealistic aspect is the cost. The second is the range (or lack thereof) of Mac software. I am not convinced that hospitals wouldn't use Macs, I just find it unlikely. Having been in more NHS hospitals than I can shake stick at, I would be surprised to learn if any in England and Wales actually used Macs. I'm not sure about other countries, but unless they're less concerned with cost and/or have a more enlightened IT policy, I find it unlikely Macs would be first choice there either.

Even in much more enlightened places, such as places of learning, Macs are not the prevalent type of machine.

Don't forget that House is a.) Fictional and b.) In the US, where hospitals aren't state run.
Hence observations of the NHS ain't much use.

True, but then it's interesting to note that other fictional TV programmes, such as ER, choose to use PCs. I wonder which reflects the reality of the situation?

Of course we'd know the answer to editorial/marketing question if American broadcasters were also required to display a symbol.

As I don't watch House, I don't know how/where the machines are being used, so my commentary must be tempered with that fact.
Look at Fringe - Peter uses an HTC Android phone, but the FBI issue them with Powerbooks.

Actually in the US hospitals have tons of money and invariably the doctor will pick what they want, as it is all tax deductible anyway.

We're not even talking about computers issued to doctors (I have no doubt if given the choice a doctor may well choose a Mac), we're talking about in-hospital equipment, such as computers attached to MRI scanners, computers in labs and what have you.

Mate of mine works in IT support for Doncaster Royal Infirmary - all PCs there.

In which case the plebs will have to use a Dell.

Though if a company can offer a deal if x machines are involved then it can change the economics of the deal significantly.

What makes you say that?

I've worked in five hospitals, three different trusts and they all had Dell and Windows XP. This includes outpatient departments, imaging systems (CT, MRI etc), theatre, wards, even secretaries and doctors' offices.

There's some huge tie-in, plus it means software is compatible across the whole trust. Different trusts however have different systems and may not work together. Frequently, I've sent patients to other hospitals and had to send them a CD with password-protected imaging, and instructions for them to contact the radiology departmemt to gain the password.

If Mac's aren't used anywhere in hospitals, explain the existence of OsiriX for OS X.

^^^Doesn't mean it's in clinical use. Has to start from somewhere. Seems to be easier to use than the proprietary imaging software most trusts use, but do you really think they would replace all IBM-compatible machines with Macs? The cost of Macs alone would destroy the NHS!

*In the UK.