by Doriana » Thu Dec 10, 2020 11:34 am
Here's what I think the time line is: is this correct?
1. She experiences symptoms of a non-lethal disease caused by bacterial infection Yes
2. She goes to the doctor and describes the symptoms Yes, but see below
3. He suspects it might be the disease. He suggests some treatment Yes
4. She refuses the treatment. Then says "I love you", but not out of genuine love No, she says "I love you" before refusing treatment
5. The "I love you" provides further evidence that it's this specific disease. The doctor does some tests to confirm it. No, he runs the tests before suggesting treatment
6. The doctor realizes she will die from the disease. Yes
Is the disease fatal without treatment? Yes Does she suffer from anxiety or depression? Is she agitated? Is she relevantly rich or poor? Is money relevant? No/irrel to rest
As you've discovered all important elements, I can declare the
********SPOILER********
An old woman goes to the ER because she has been feeling unusually young and vigorous lately. She also tells the doctor that she's been crushing on younger guys, starts flirting with the doctor and tells him that she loves him. The doctor suspects that her heightened libido is a symptom of neurosyphilis-related brain damage. Tests confirm the diagnosis and she admits to having contracted syphilis as a young woman. However, she refuses treatment because she likes being "doomed to feel good for the rest of her life", as the doctor puts it.
Based on S01E08 of House M.D., which is based on a real case reported in one of Oliver Sacks's popular science books.