Also known as: Metal poisoning from hip replacement
A 47-year-old construction worker presents with hypotension, tachycardia, flu-like symptoms, and hematuria. He is found to have cobalt poisoning from his metal-on-metal artificial hip replacement, which is leaching cobalt into his bloodstream and causing kidney damage. The episode focuses on Dr. Sharpe confronting the medical device manufacturer and advocating for FDA regulation.
Also known as: Brain tumor
A teenage psychiatric patient presents with severe headaches, visual disturbances (seeing spots), nausea, and vomiting. Initially suspected to be part of a mass psychogenic illness outbreak, she is ultimately diagnosed with a meningioma (benign brain tumor) that was causing her real physical symptoms while others in her group developed psychosomatic symptoms.
Also known as: Mass hysteria
Multiple adolescent psychiatric patients develop sudden onset of fever, nausea, vomiting, and respiratory symptoms after witnessing another patient (Emily) become severely ill. Initially suspected to be Legionnaire's disease from a gas leak, the outbreak is revealed to be mass psychogenic illness spreading by line-of-sight among the young, isolated group. Treated with placebo 'medication' (candy).
Also known as: Surgical wound breakdown
An elderly widow who previously underwent coronary artery bypass surgery is readmitted after falling at home and being unable to get up for 14 hours. The fall reopened her saphenous vein graft extraction site on her leg, requiring repeat surgery. Her case drives Dr. Goodwin's push for a visiting nurses program for post-operative care.