NHS anaesthetist’s research identifies cause of mother’s fatal seizures
An NHS anaesthetist saved his mother's life by using an online search to diagnose the cause of her life-threatening seizures whilst driving to hospital. Edward Patrick discovered that his mother Ann's seizures were caused by a B6 vitamin deficiency linked to her Parkinson's medication. After he shared this finding with the neurologist treating her, Ann received a B6 infusion and recovered from what doctors had indicated would be fatal.
The emergency call came early in May as Ann, in her late seventies, was developing rhabdomyolysis, a dangerous condition where seizures cause muscle tissue to collapse and enter the bloodstream. Edward's brother had initially suggested a vitamin deficiency through an online search, but Edward's quick thinking to independently research the symptoms and present the findings to neurologist Dr Bruno Gran proved crucial. Ann has since returned home with no further hospitalisations and appears mentally sharper, with a case file now being prepared for the medical journal Neurology to examine whether this discovery could inform future treatment approaches.
- An NHS doctor diagnosed his mother's seizures using online research.
- B6 vitamin deficiency caused by her Parkinson's medication.
- She recovered after treatment, case now being studied by journal.
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An NHS anaesthetist diagnosed the cause of his mother's potentially fatal seizures through his own research. Edward Patrick's mother Ann, in her late seventies, had experienced a medical emergency.
The seizures had triggered rhabdomyolysis, a dangerous condition in which muscle tissue breaks down and enters the bloodstream. Edward's research revealed that Ann's seizures were caused by a vitamin B6 deficiency linked to medication she was taking for her Parkinson's disease.
After Edward presented his findings to Ann's neurologist, she received treatment for the deficiency and recovered. The case demonstrates how patients and their families can sometimes identify causes of serious illness through independent research.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Son saves his mother’s life after using AI to look up why she was having seizures”.