Watch Call the Midwife, Series 3, Episode 1, Sister Monica Joan Holds the Key to this Mystery Illness on Netflix. Address the following questions on blackboard discussion. Please provide references to support your comments.
- The baby in this episode has a mystery illness. What were his symptoms?
- The setting of the show is the early 1950’s. Why did it take so long for Dr. Turner to determine the diagnosis?
- Sister Monica Joan, knew the condition from her past experience, even though the disease was not well known at the time. What action performed by Sister Monica Joan helped her discover what was wrong with this child? What diagnostic test today was developed due to this observation made by Sister Monica Joan?
- What are the diagnostic tests utilized today to diagnose this mystery disease?
- Describe the name and pathophysiology of this mystery disease. What is the hereditary pattern?
- What treatments are available today that were not available in 1950? How do these modern day treatment affect the mortality rate?
- When you first watched the episode, what did you think was wrong with this child? After watching the episode, what symptoms convinced you to believe the diagnosis?
- Today, children with this disease are usually diagnosed early in infancy because it is a test on the newborn screen. In addition, after years of research, doctors are not aware of the other diseases and conditions that commonly occur in children with this disease. Please describe the conditions and diseases that are often found in children with this disease.