02 Aug 2018
A Hypothetical: Diagnosis
Dr Julian Druce, Virus Identification Laboratory Head at the Royal Melbourne Hospital's Victorian Infectious Disease Reference Laboratory at the Doherty Institute, recently lead an expert panel confronted by a hypothetical outbreak of a novel agent. The panel examined the issues and dilemmas faced by society as an unusual scenario unfolds that challenges some ideas of normality, equality and family.
Over the coming weeks, we will be releasing the discussion that followed as a four-part series.
Diagnosis
In the opening episode, the first patient presents to the Royal Melbourne Hospital's emergency department. After attending a music festival in regional Victoria, Jill is suffering from fevers, severe headaches, an altered conscious state and is photophobic.
The experts begin to hypothesise: what is she suffering from?
In this episode, in speaking order:
- Dr Julian Druce, Virus Identification Laboratory Head, Victorian Infectious Disease Reference Laboratory, Doherty Institute
- Dr Irani Thevarajan, Infectious Disease Physician, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Doherty Institute
- Dr Mike Catton, Medical Virologist, Director, Victorian Infectious Disease Reference Laboratory, Doherty Institute