Episode Title:
Prescribed Poison
Episode Description:
Momoka, the mother of Suzuhara Soichiro, the boy Takao diagnosed with vitamin A poisoning, accuses her of misdiagnosing him since Soichiro is still ill. As a result of the lawsuit Takao's uncle moves to close the Investigative Pathology Department. Other doctors believe Soichiro was being overdosed as some of his symptoms have improved, but he continues to have regular periods of serious illness. As a nurse herself, Momoka keeps interfering in Soichiro's treatments. Takao suspects something in the juice Momoko serves to Soichiro is poisoning him, yet tests on the juice find nothing poisonous. A comment from Mai gives Takao an epiphany; Soichiro doesn't like the juice because it tastes bitter. She thus demonstrates to Momoka and the hospital board members that Soichiro's sweet juice boxes actually contain bitter grapefruit juice. Grapefruit contains a chemical that interferes with the carbamazepine Soichiro takes to prevent seizures, giving him short periods of Carbamazepine overdose. Takao also demonstrates the juice boxes had been tampered with, replacing the juice with grapefruit via a syringe. Due to the timing of his illnesses and the medical knowledge required Takao accuses Momoka of poisoning Soichiro due to suffering from the psychiatric condition Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a mental disorder where parents harm their children so they can play the role of loving parents and gain sympathy from people around them. With Takao diagnosing Vitamin A overdose and ruining her plans, Momoka fabricated the lawsuit as revenge. Momoka is arrested for child abuse and the Investigative Pathology Department is reopened. As she celebrates with Yu and Mai, Takao receives an email about person named Miki Kenta being diagnosed with leukemia which upsets her deeply.
