Lightning-Fast Doubt Resolution

Read the passage carefully and answer the questions which follow.

No one came to court with her that day, except her public defender. She was 18 years old, charged with a gross misdemeanour, punishable by up to a year in jail. Her case was one of 4,859 filed in 2008 in Lynnwood Municipal Court, a place where the judge says the goal is “to correct behaviour — to make Lynnwood a better, safer, healthier place to live, work, shop and visit.” But her misdemeanour had made the news, and made her an object of curiosity or, worse, scorn. It had cost her the newfound independence she was savouring after a life in foster homes. It had cost her sense of worth. Each ring of the phone seemed to announce another friendship, lost. A friend from 10th grade called to ask: How could you lie about something like that? Marie — that’s her middle name, Marie — didn’t say anything. She just listened, then hung up. Even her foster parents now doubted her. She doubted herself, wondering if there was something in her that needed to be fixed.

She had reported being raped in her apartment by a man who had bound and gagged her. Then, confronted by police with inconsistencies in her story, she had conceded it might have been a dream. Then she admitted making the story up. One TV newscast announced, “A Western Washington woman has confessed that she cried wolf when it came to her rape she reported earlier this week.” She had been charged with filing a false report, which is why she was here today, to accept or turn down a plea deal.

Her lawyer was surprised she had been charged. Her story hadn’t hurt anyone — no suspects arrested, or even questioned. His guess was, the police felt used. They don’t appreciate having their time wasted. The prosecution’s offer was this: If she met certain conditions for the next year, the charge would be dropped. She would need to get mental health counselling for her lying. She would need to go on supervised probation. She would need to keep straight, breaking no more laws. And she would have to pay $500 to cover the court’s costs. Marie wanted this behind her. She took the deal.

Read the following scenario and answer the THREE questions that follow.

Dr Gregory House, a distinguished diagnostician at Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, is renowned for solving medical mysteries that baffle others. His unconventional methods often push ethical boundaries but deliver results. Dr Lisa Cuddy, the hospital administrator, tolerates his eccentricities due to his exceptional track record. Recently, a patient showing ringworm-like symptoms was referred to Dr House. Despite numerous tests and consultations, no definitive diagnosis emerged, and the patient’s condition eventually worsened. Dr House believes observing the progression of symptoms will yield a more accurate diagnosis, even though the aggravated symptoms can cause immense pain and lead to further complications. This alarms Dr Cuddy, who is worried about the severity of the case. She suggests administering "Tenzoparin," a drug that alleviates the observed symptoms and offers temporary relief. However, this approach risks obscuring the patient's underlying condition, possibly leading to fatal outcomes if undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. The tension escalates as both professionals debate the best course of action for the patient’s survival and diagnosis.