Diagnosis by subterfuge

She was referred from another part of Britain because of undiagnosed postural hypotension. My boss was an expert. We gathered round her bed to discuss what should be done.

She was a well presented woman in her early 60s. She had no medical conditions of any relevance and took no drugs. She was charming and keen to find out why she kept falling over. We did the usual tests: lying and standing blood pressures, an electrocardiogram (ECG) …