How Good a Comic-Book Doctor Are You?
May 20th, 2010
Diagnosing a patient is hard enough in the real world (that headache, is it a tension headache? migraine? meningitis? Strep? brain tumor?). Just imagine how much more difficult it would be in the world of comics, where psychics, aliens, strange drugs, and mutations all come into play.
Still want to be a comic book doctor? Here’s your chance, with four more comic book medicine case studies:
The previous case studies and a bit more an explanation can be found at Dr. Scott’s Case Studies of Comic Book Medicine
Case Study #14: This patient is a male college student. Something of anti-establishment type, he has been known to dabble in recreational drugs. He complains of the sudden onset of convulsions and severe burning central abdominal pain, 10/10 on the pain scale. There is no radiation of the pain and no alleviating or aggravating factors. After several hours, the pain resolved and there has not been a second episode. He denies any fever, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. He denies any recent dietary changes or any recent increase in stress. There is no history of a seizure disorder.
A. Gastric Ulcer
B. Reaction to impurities in street drugs
C. Sympathetic pain from a twin
D. Alien parasite
E. Hepatitis A infection
A. Gastric Ulcer
B. Reaction to impurities in street drugs
C. Sympathetic pain from a twin
D. Alien parasite
E. Hepatitis A infection
Case Study #15: The patient is generally healthy young female in her mid-twenties who has experienced several episodes of sudden uncontrollable rage which have led to a good amount of property damage. She feels dizzy for a few seconds before one of the episodes begins, and experiences a severe pounding headache, but denies any other aura or premonition. Afterwards, she feels confused and sleepy and has no memory of what happened. People who have witnessed the episodes state that she acts “possessed” but displays no other physical changes.
Patient has no significant medical history, but does come from a broken home where she was abandoned by her father at a young age and her mother died early.
A. Withdrawal from illegal drugs
B. Anabolic-steroid rage episode (i.e. “Roid rage”)
C. Atypical partial seizure
D. Gamma radiation exposure
E. Psychological fugue state
Patient has no significant medical history, but does come from a broken home where she was abandoned by her father at a young age and her mother died early.
A. Withdrawal from illegal drugs
B. Anabolic-steroid rage episode (i.e. “Roid rage”)
C. Atypical partial seizure
D. Gamma radiation exposure
E. Psychological fugue state
Case Study #16: For the past several days, the patient — a healthy male in his early thirties — complains of episodes of lightheadedness. After several minutes of symptoms, the patient develops tunnel vision and then quickly passes out. The episodes always seem to occur around the same time of the evening. When he awakes in the morning, he has no memory of the previous night. There experiences no incontinence. He denies any history of similar episodes. The patient is adopted, so family history is unavailable.
A. Partial Complex Seizures
B. Attempted possession by an alien entity
C. Alcohol related blackouts
D. Lycanthropy
E. Affected by radiation from a passing satellite
A. Partial Complex Seizures
B. Attempted possession by an alien entity
C. Alcohol related blackouts
D. Lycanthropy
E. Affected by radiation from a passing satellite
Case Study #17: The patient is a previously healthy male in his early 50s. While talking with his son, he suffered the acute onset of severe generalized abdominal pain. A short time later, he collapses, unconscious. There was no nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or fever. There has been no recent travel or unusual means. His son remains symptom free.
A. Deliberate poisoning
B. Appendicitis
C. Mesenteric ischemia
D. Victim of a voodoo ritual
E. Food poisoning
A. Deliberate poisoning
B. Appendicitis
C. Mesenteric ischemia
D. Victim of a voodoo ritual
E. Food poisoning
5 Responses to “ How Good a Comic-Book Doctor Are You? ”
May 20th, 2010 at 9:04 am
Well, I got 50%. Good thing I’m not a doctor in a comic universe — my mortality rate would be pretty high. On the other hand, not only did I diagnose the Siamese twin sympathetic pain correctly, I even deduced the character (not too hard since there aren’t that many to pick from).
May 20th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Heh. The last story was just referenced/retold in DC Legacies #1.
May 20th, 2010 at 8:57 pm
There’s a bit of bias here: since comics are meant to be entertaining, chances are it’s going to be be the oddball explanation rather than the obvious one if it makes it into print.
As for the voodoo ritual, if the doll is red then why has the victim turned white? Is this some weird side-effect?
BTW, “I’ve read of you in More Fun Comics.” is a great pick-up line. I bet the ladies really went for that one.
May 25th, 2010 at 8:43 pm
I only got the last one right. Yikes. I should have known that lycanthropes don’t classically manifest tunnel vision prior to an attack. Guess that’s why you’re the doctor and I’m not!
May 27th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
[...] a los comics, disecciona cada capítulo criticando la trama “médica”. También propone casos clínicos basados en la actuación de médicos en distintos [...]
Leave a Reply
Contact Me
About
Subscribe:
The Best Of...
Special Topics
Archives
Categories
Twitter
See Also
Comic Blogs
Medical/Science Blogs
Currently Reading
Arbitrarily Interesting Medical Condition
Syndrome
The Net:
Contents may have settled during shipping. Past results are no guarantee of future performance. No animals were harmed during the production of this product. Void where prohibited by law. All rights reserved. Not valid with other offers or specials. Professional driver on a closed track. Your financial institution may impose other fees. All models are over 18 years of age. Employees must wash hands before returning to work. Results not typical. Many suitcases look alike. 18% gratuity added to tables of six or more.
Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball.
© 2004-2012 Polite Dissent. Powered by WordPress