More Than Just a Respiratory Infection

Emotions are running high in this fast-paced pulmonology appointment. The 37-year-old female patient attends with her overbearing parents. The patient presents with a 102.6F fever. The parents immediately try to take over the appointment, answering the doctor’s questions meant for the patient.The doctor makes it clear that she wants the patient to answer the questions. The parents ignore her request. The doctor tries to accommodate the parents while at the same time giving the patient the opportunity to express herself. Things seem to be getting worse. Finally, the doctor expresses in no uncertain terms that she wants the patient to answer the questions. 

The patient explains that she has had this cough and fever for about 2 weeks and that the fever gets worse at night, as does her cough. 

The mother, unable to keep silent, contradicts her daughter. 

During the course of the conversation, it is revealed that the patient worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant in her home country. The doctor inquires whether tuberculosis was a common ailment in the nursing home where the patient worked. The patient confirms that it was. The doctor inquires whether tuberculosis is common in her home country. 

The doctor takes a chest X-Ray and immediately suspects tuberculosis. The parents disagree. 

The doctor expresses that the diagnosis has to be confirmed by a blood exam. The parents again intervene in the conversation, creating confusion and tense moments for all involved. Dr. Isabel Johnson explains the treatment but cautions that the diagnosis has to be first confirmed by means of a blood test. 

The doctor explains the necessary diet and the medications needed should the blood test confirm the diagnosis. The doctor schedules the blood test for the next day and makes an arrangement for a follow-up appointment for the following week. 

This Role-Play is not for the faint-of-heart. It is fast-moving and filled with tense moments.