Sound Clinical Reasoning Saves lives!

An illustrative example is the story of a young journalist, (Susannah Callahan) who suffered seizures, hallucinations, psychotic behavior, and even catatonia. A team of doctors conducted a million-dollar workup without success. Her neurologist, (Dr. Souhel Najjar) asked her to draw a clock. She drew a one-sided clock indicative of left-side spatial neglect and probable encephalitis, which was explained in layman’s terms, brain on fire. This guided brain biopsy and eventual diagnosis and treatment for anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis (a rare autoimmune disease) with a successful outcome.