No one was able to determine the cause of her illness. The child's mother was poisoning her by administering large amounts of mercury, and was subsequently apprehended. In other examples, lab professionals have intervened to indirectly affect the lives of siblings of deceased children. In one case, a one-year old child died mysteriously at home in bed. After this discovery, the mother was separated from her children, thereby eliminating the opportunity for further harm.
Forensic toxicologists are available for interviews.
The clinical lab professional serves as a medical consultant, working in tandem with the ordering physician to diagnose disease or abnormalities. By applying their judgement, clinical expertise, and experience to unusual cases presented before them, lab professionals are often responsible for drawing the link between certain symptoms or abnormalities and disease. This intervention then leads to swift diagnosis and treatment. A 40-year old man complained of a sore throat, and his doctor, who suspected thrush, did a scraping of the cells in his mouth, and sent the specimen to the lab. The doctor agreed, however, and the test was performed, revealing that the patient was HIV-positive.