Latest news with #neurologists
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Dr House gets it wrong: Croatian neurologists highlight 77 errors in popular TV series
ZAGREB, June 1 — He's the maverick medic who loved to confound the medical establishment with his brilliant, unorthodox diagnoses. But Dr Gregory House, the misanthropic genius who was the star of the long-running 'House' television series, got an awful lot wrong himself, Croatian doctors claim. From a neurologist at work on the wrong end of a patient by performing a colonoscopy, or an MRI scan done by a physician who is clearly not a radiologist, Croatian researchers have pulled the American series up on its medical accuracy in a paper published this month. Denis Cerimagic, a professor at Dubrovnik University, and two fellow neurologists—all big fans of the series—listed 77 errors after analysing all 177 episodes of the show, which ran from 2004 to 2012. 'We focused on the diagnoses of main cases, reality of clinical practice presentation and detection of medical errors,' Cerimagic told AFP. He and his peers—Goran Ivkic and Ervina Bilic—broke the mistakes down into five categories including misuses of medical terminology, misinformation and simple weirdness—something which the show's anti-hero, played by British star Hugh Laurie, possessed in abundance. That limp They included the use of mercury thermometers—which had long given way to digital ones—the term heart attack and cardiac arrest being used interchangeably when they are not the same, and that vitamin B12 deficiency can be corrected with just one injection. Nor is there a universal chemotherapy for all types of malignant tumours, as one episode suggested. But arguably the biggest error of all is that Laurie—whose character's genius for deduction comes from the misdiagnosis that left him with a limp and chronic pain—uses his cane on the wrong side. The stick should be carried on his unaffected side, Cerimagic said, though he understood why the actor had done it because 'it's more effective to see the pronounced limp on the screen'. Their research also found medical procedures being done by specialists who had no business being there, like an infectologist performing an autopsy. At times the series also stretched reality beyond breaking point, with the findings of complex laboratory tests done in just a few hours. And doctors rarely turn detective and take it upon themselves to enter patients' homes to look for environmental causes of illnesses. Not to mention Dr House's unethical behaviour—'Brain tumour, she's gonna die' the paper quoted him as saying—and the character's opiates addiction. The researchers say they may have missed other mistakes. 'We are neurologists while other medical specialists would certainly establish additional errors,' Cerimagic added. Medical errors Whatever their criticisms, the researchers say that modern medical series are far better produced than in the past, thanks to medical advisors. It is not like some 20 years ago when you had doctors looking at X-rays upside down, the neurologist said. 'Now only medical professionals can notice errors,' Cerimagic said. Despite its flaws, they thought the series could even be used to help train medical students. 'The focus could be on recognising medical errors in the context of individual episodes, adopting the teamwork concept and a multidisciplinary approach in diagnosis and treatment,' Cerimagic said. He said he and his colleagues were taken aback by the response to their paper 'House M.D.: Between reality and fiction'—which is not the first academic study to cast doubt on the good doctor and his methods. 'The idea was to make a scientific paper interesting not only to doctors but also to people without specific medical knowledge.' — AFP
RNZ News
7 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
No neurologist at Palmerston North Hospital for woman who suffered seizure
There are just two part-time neurologists at Palmerston North Hospital. File photo. Photo: RNZ /Dom Thomas A Palmerston North woman who rushed to the city's hospital after suffering a seizure was surprised to find there was no neurologist on duty. Instead, a general doctor took instructions from a specialist in Wellington. Health New Zealand says it has recruited to fill gaps at Palmerston North Hospital - including by using locums - but the woman RNZ spoke to is worried the shortage puts patients and hospital staff at risk. The woman, who requested anonymity, headed to the hospital mid-afternoon on a weekday last month, and quickly saw a doctor. "What the doctor had to do was he had to consult with the neurologist in Wellington to confirm that for my care that it was all right - that his increase in the medication was going to be acceptable," she said. She was told the hospital's neurologists were on leave, so the Wellington arrangement was in place for Palmerston North Hospital doctors to seek specialist advice. "[This] put additional pressure on the doctor, who's just a general medicine practitioner, who's now having to do something that a neurologist's been trained for. He's having to make decisions for patients." Health NZ did not answer RNZ's question about how many full-time neurologists the hospital is funded for. But its group director of operations for MidCentral Sarah Fenwick confirmed Palmerston North Hospital employed just two part-time neurologists. "Due to a successful ongoing recruitment campaign, we have been able to employ a third who is due to start in July 2025," she said. "We also have two short-term locums starting at the end of July 2025 and a medium-term locum starting in October 2025. "In the meantime, we have outsourced some neurology appointments and are working with Wellington Hospital to provide patients with an inpatient neurology consult service so we can continue to manage waiting times." She said a another neurologist was due to return to the hospital in February. The woman who suffered the seizure said the situation was not good enough. Two years ago she also had a seizure, but then the hospital had a neurologist available to see her. She wondered what had happened since then. "It's endangering the patients. It's endangering the doctors. It's a health and safety issue that needs to be taken seriously by Health NZ." Patient Voice Aotearoa chair Malcolm Mulholland. Photo: RNZ / Jimmy Ellingham Patient Voice Aotearoa chair Malcolm Mulholland agreed. "I think it's extremely poor that a patient who has suffered a seizure, who lives in a hospital area with a catchment of 180,000 people, could not be seen by a neurologist in the flesh. "This is the reason why we have hospitals, so that patients can access specialists." They were thin on the ground at Palmerston North Hospital, an example of the postcode lottery that health reforms were supposed to end, he said. The neurology department was one of 11 at the hospital that Mulholland understood were chronically understaffed. "I would have thought that there would have at the very least been a locum that would have filled in for the neurologist who was on leave," he said "I don't begrudge the neurologist having leave. I think that's necessary in their line of work, but to be reliant on one neurologist to cater for a population of 180,000 is basically insane." The woman RNZ spoke with now faces a wait to see a specialist to follow up on that original hospital visit. "I just feel for everybody that's going through any type of health challenge that's not been dealt with with the right professional, or specialist. Why's this happening in New Zealand?" Fenwick said the waiting time for a first specialist neurology assessment at Palmerston North Hospital was 264 days, and 400 people were on the waiting list. She said Health NZ was working hard to deal with this and from the end of September it's expected patients would wait no longer than four months. "We know that waiting for specialist care can be an uncertain and distressing time for patients and their loved ones," Fenwick said. "While our aim is always to give people the best care in a timely fashion, we're seeing growing demand for services from people with increasingly complex needs." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
An end to migraines, cravings and brain fog: New pill hope for the cruel condition as scientists hail breakthrough that cuts symptoms
Often the first signs of a migraine are visual disturbances such as blind spots, tingling in the hands and face, weakness and changes in speech – known as the 'aura' stage. But there is also a lesser-known period, the premonitory, or prodromal phase, with its own set of debilitating symptoms – including brain fog and fatigue, mood changes (irritability and anxiety), neck pain, dizziness, passing more urine and yawning.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
The simple hand test that could reveal if you have a hidden brain tumour – and it takes just 30 seconds
A SIMPLE hand test could spot serious brain problems, a doctor has suggested. The British medic who calls himself ' Medifectious ' on TikTok showed how to do the test in a video with nearly 200,000 views. 2 2 It involves packing one palm on the other, both facing upwards. Then, flip the top palm up and down as fast as you can for a few seconds. Switch hands, then repeat. The test checks for something called dysdiadochokinesia, the impaired ability to perform rapid alternating movements. If you struggle, you could have issues with your cerebellum - part of the brain which sits at the back and is responsible for balance and coordination. According to the Cleveland C linic, damage to the cerebellum can be caused by a number of serious conditions. This including stroke, traumatic brain injury, and multiple sclerosis. It can also be a sign of a brain tumour pressing on surrounding tissue, or a problem with the nerves themselves. The NHS does not list this hand test as a formal diagnostic tool. It's used by neurologists as part of broader assessments, but struggling with it isn't enough to diagnose a condition on its own. Brain Tumour facts: 10 things you should know about brain tumours In his clip demonstrating the motion, Medifectious said: "Everyone should be able to do it.' "If you can't do this you might want to get yourself checked." He added that some patients are able to do the motion perfectly with one hand but have problems with the other, depending on the underlying cause. Cancerous brain tumours are the deadliest form of cancer for children and adults under 40 in the UK. They kill around 5,300 people each year - about 15 a day. But even non-cancerous (benign) tumours can be dangerous if they grow in sensitive areas of the brain. More than 12,000 people in Britain are diagnosed with a brain tumour each year. Around half of those are cancerous. Common symptoms include headaches, drowsiness, vomiting and blurred vision - all caused by pressure building up inside the skull. Other warning signs are mood changes, weakness on one side of the body, confusion, and problems with speech or sight. Symptoms vary depending on where the tumour is in the brain. Anyone who develops new or worsening headaches should see their GP. It's unlikely to be a tumour - but it's worth checking. The most common symptoms of a brain tumour More than 12,000 Brits are diagnosed with a primary brain tumour every year — of which around half are cancerous — with 5,300 losing their lives. The disease is the most deadly cancer in children and adults aged under 40, according to the Brain Tumour Charity. Brain tumours reduce life expectancies by an average of 27 years, with just 12 per cent of adults surviving five years after diagnosis. There are two main types, with non-cancerous benign tumours growing more slowly and being less likely to return after treatment. Cancerous malignant brain tumours can either start in the brain or spread there from elsewhere in the body and are more likely to return. Brain tumours can cause headaches, seizures, nausea, vomiting and memory problems, according to the NHS. They can also lead to changes in personality weakness or paralysis on one side of the problem and problems with speech or vision. The nine most common symptoms are: Headaches Seizures Feeling sick Being sick Memory problems Change in personality Weakness or paralysis on one side of the body Vision problems Speech problems If you are suffering any of these symptoms, particularly a headache that feels different from the ones you normally get, you should visit your GP. Source: NHS
CBC
07-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
New Brunswick has no mystery neurological disease, scientific study concludes
A new scientific study has found no evidence of an undiagnosed mystery brain disease in New Brunswick, says a report published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, known as JAMA. Instead, an independent reassessment of 25 of 222 patients diagnosed by Moncton neurologist Alier Marrero as having a "neurological syndrome of unknown cause" concluded that all of the cases were attributable to well-known conditions. These include common neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, functional neurological disorder, traumatic brain injury, and metastatic cancer, says the report. The researchers also do not believe exposure to something in the environment, such as the herbicide glyphosate or heavy metals, made the patients ill. "The broad range of very different, well-recognized diseases diagnosed is also strong evidence against a single environmental toxin causing the patients' symptoms," wrote the 13 co-authors. Six neurologists who conducted second, independent clinical evaluations at hospitals in New Brunswick and Ontario are among them. Second opinions needed, report says The researchers contend that what they found to be misdiagnoses were mainly due to "inaccurate clinical assessments" and an "overreliance on or misinterpretation" of supplementary testing. They said any patient diagnosed with a neurological syndrome of unknown cause should get a second opinion, which many of Marrero's patients have refused to do. "Education, reassurance, and mental health support should also be prioritized for patients and families who have been profoundly impacted by claims that a potentially fatal mystery disease continues to affect them." Marrero could not immediately be reached for comment. Government report due this summer The report comes after the New Brunswick government launched the "data analysis phase" of its own investigation into undiagnosed neurological symptoms Marrero says are now affecting hundreds of people in seven provinces and whether environmental substances are a factor. A public report with recommendations is expected this summer. An epidemiological study in the fall of 2021 found no specific behaviours, foods or environmental exposures that linked the patients together and could pose a risk. In addition, an oversight committee made up of six neurologists in February 2022 found "potential alternative diagnoses" for 41 of an original cluster of 48 patients, including Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body dementia, post-concussion syndrome and cancer. "No such syndrome exists," Dr. Jennifer Russell, the then-chief medical officer of health, said at the time. The authors of the JAMA report are the latest to weigh in on the mystery illness controversy, which dates back to 2019, they say, when "speculation of a purported unknown neurological syndrome began to circulate in New Brunswick." In early 2021, the public learned that Public Health was monitoring more than 40 New Brunswick patients with symptoms similar to those of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a rare and fatal brain disease. Their symptoms ranged from painful muscle spasms and hallucinations to memory loss and behavioural changes. The number of patients suffering from unexplained neurological symptoms has since jumped to 507 across New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, P.E.I., Newfoundland, Ontario, Quebec and Alberta, according to a letter Marrero wrote to federal and provincial officials in February, obtained by CBC News. Fifty people have died. 14 patients given 2nd clinical evaluation The JAMA report notes the number of cases formally reported to Public Health New Brunswick is 222, referring to the enhanced surveillance forms completed by Marrero. The authors focused on 25 of those patients — 14 of them alive (eight women and six men aged 20 to 55) and 11 who have died (five women and six men, aged 56 to 82). The 14 living patients received a second, independent clinical evaluation by one of four movement disorder neurologists or one of two behavioural neurologists, as well as additional testing if needed, while two neuropathologists reviewed the autopsy cases. The researchers also gathered data from late 2023 to early 2025 from the patients' health records, including physician reports, notes from allied health care professionals, test results, and demographic information. 'Meaningful discrepancies' found Many of the 14 second, independent clinical evaluations, found "meaningful discrepancies" between the initial documented history and findings and the second assessment's findings, the report says. For example, 10 patients were originally documented to have a rapidly progressive dementia or neurological disorder, but on re-evaluation, "the symptom onset was found to be much earlier than originally documented." Three patients were also reported to have visual or tactile hallucinations, which were not confirmed on the second evaluation. In addition, 11 of the 14 patients were originally documented to have abnormal cognitive testing, but upon re-evaluation, nine of 11 "either had no subjective cognitive symptoms or had cognitive testing that was not compatible with dementia." Meanwhile, EEGs, the tests that measure electrical activity in the brain, were said to show abnormal slowing for all 21 patients who had them. "Overinterpretation of EEG findings is not uncommon and frequently leads to misdiagnoses," according to the study reported in JAMA, which cites a lack of standards or mandatory training as reasons. Certainty close to 100% Despite the small sample size, the researchers said "practical knowledge and clinical reasoning" suggest the probability of no new disease is close to 100 per cent. The researchers blame a number of factors for fuelling "unfounded" and "persistent public concern" about a potentially fatal mystery disease, despite the earlier provincial investigation rejecting this possibility. These include misinformation that has "proliferated" in both traditional and social media, and decreased public trust in health institutions since the COVID-19 pandemic. "In this way, misdiagnosis and misinformation become inextricably entwined and amplify patient harm exponentially." The researchers said only 14 patients had accepted independent re-evaluation by another neurologist, while 52 refused, choosing instead to remain with Marrero — "the [one] neurologist who originally made and continues to promote the diagnosis of a mystery disease." Because of the complex nature of some neurological disorders, patients would have benefited from a second, independent evaluation, the JAMA article says. "We can only speculate that the low uptake for reevaluation stems from a variety of factors," the researchers say. At the patient level, for instance, it could be a lack of awareness or concerns about the time and effort needed to get a second diagnosis, they said. At the clinician level, it might be professional validation, and at the system level, it might be a matter of access and lack of institutional oversight.
