The Iceman Cometh and the Patient Goeth

Written and read by Leo A. Gordon, MD, The American Bard of Medicine. Step back to a bitterly cold Chicago in 1972 where a third-year medical student is about to learn a now-outdated method of locating brain tumors. Join us as we follow Dr. Gordon, a young, eager student, who armed with a bucket of ice water, a red rubber catheter, and a syringe, is sent to diagnose a frightened, wary patient. The chief resident, a tall Texan in cowboy boots, explains the procedure: inject ice water into the ear and observe the eye movements to locate a tumor.

But there’s a catch: the patient is not thrilled with the idea of ice water being injected into his ear, especially on such a freezing day.

Just as the situation escalates, Dr. Melman, the attending physician,  arrives with news of a new method - brain scans using radioactive material.

Listen in as this medical mystery unfolds with a patient who is not shy to voice his opinion. This podcast episode will leave you laughing and wondering, what were they thinking back then?

Spoiler alert: the iceman cometh, and then the patient goeth!