CASE STUDY Cynthia Has an Automobile Accident Cynthia is a 20-year-old college student. One night after a party at her boyfriend’s fraternity, she decides to drive to her parents’ home for the...

CASE STUDY

Cynthia Has an Automobile Accident

Cynthia is a 20-year-old college student. One night after a party at her boyfriend’s fraternity, she decides to drive to her parents’ home for the weekend. It is late Friday, and there was beer as well as some snack food at the party. Cynthia is not driving under the influence but being tired she was not as alert as she should have been. The driving conditions were not ideal: there had been a light misty rain and it was foggy in places. As Cynthia was traveling around a curve, an oncoming car with headlights on high suddenly appeared. Cynthia tried to escape a head-on collision but unfortunately she was unsuccessful and the two cars met head on. Fortunately, both cars were being driven cautiously and relatively slowly so neither driver was killed. Both were seriously injured. Both were transported to the local hospital by ambulance. Both suffered fractures and they both lost blood. Cynthia was worse off than the other driver. The other driver was a 35-year-old male. Analyze this situation. Why was Cynthia worse off than the male driver? What do you think contributed to her clinical condition? Playing the clinical detective what kinds of tests would you want to help you decide on the best possible course of action?