It’s part of a longstanding practice in medical schools to use actors as patients so that students can develop critical skills for conducting physical exams and taking medical histories. But at the University of Virginia, one student’s actor-patient turned out to be the real thing.
Jim Malloy was assigned an illness. University of Virginia Medical School student Ryan Jones was supposed to form a diagnosis based on the symptoms Malloy described on the card he was given, according to a report by CBS News.
Malloy was instructed to act out symptoms for an abdominal aortic aneurysm, an enlargement of the lower part of the aorta — the main blood vessel that delivers blood to the body. But as Jones examined his patient, he realized that in this rare occurrence, his patient actually had the condition. This made him think Malloy was some sort of ringer to keep the med students on their toes. But Malloy said he had no symptoms. A supervising physician confirmed the aneurysm.
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The dangerous condition can lead to a burst blood vessel or leaking along the blood vessel wall that can cause internal bleeding and death. Once discovered, the condition is closely monitored by doctors since its progression may be slow or rapid. Men over 60 who are smokers or those who have a family history of abdominal aortic aneurysms are at higher risk.
Jones advised Malloy to see his doctor as soon as possible. Malloy later had stent replacement surgery. As Jones moves on to a residency in his chosen field of oncology radiologist, he can take comfort that he’s chosen the right profession.
[Flickr photo courtesy of Aussiegall]