The Doctor, based at Weatherfield General, treated Joseph Brown when he suddenly collapsed at home. For several weeks he had been complaining about being ill with only his stepmother Gemma believing his claims. Despite taking him to both the medical centre and A&E she was unable to obtain a diagnosis as to what was wrong with the boy and Bernie Winter suggested giving him an invigorating cup of lavender infused tea.
Joseph collapsed with stomach cramps soon afterwards and was rushed to the General after Chesney rang for an ambulance. Preliminary tests were conducted, and the family was shocked to be told that these indicated that Joseph had been poisoned. The doctor questioned them about what substances Joseph could have ingested and they told him about the lavender tea. Bernie went home to get a packet and when she brought it back Gemma didn’t recognise it, both women coming to the realisation that Joseph had been given lavender oils instead by an uncomprehending Gemma. A suitable antidote to the poison was given and Joseph began to recover, being kept in overnight for observation. The doctor tried to ascertain how Joseph had obtained a toxic substance and, performing his duty of care, alerted child protection services in the person of Caitlin Edwards. The next day, as the doctor prepared to release Joseph, he introduced Chesney to Caitlin who began an investigation into whether Gemma was deliberately harming the boy. After a couple of traumatic months, the problem was traced to undiagnosed Lymes disease which Joseph had contracted on a school trip to the countryside.
List of appearances[]
2023