title: The blind photographer. Observations on the bewildering nature of feigned vision loss.
abstract: The diagnosis of feigned vision loss in adults taxes the doctor-patient relationship because the relationship should be based on trust, honesty, and the mutual desire to improve the medical condition. Even under ideal circumstances, physicians rarely have a complete understanding of the factors that lead patients to simulate disease they do not have. We describe the historical figure of John Howard Griffin (1920-1980) who likely perpetuated feigned vision loss for a decade. His writings provide a unique perspective on motivation (or inspiration) behind factitious disease.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Ophthalmology (CEM, LEH, MD) and Pathology and Cell Biology (CEM), Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida.
authors.forename: Curtis E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Margo
authors.forename: Lynn E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Harman
authors.forename: Mitchell
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drucker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001325:Autobiographies as Topic; D001766:Blindness / Q000266:history* / Q000503:physiopathology; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019370:Observation; D010820:Physicians / Q000266:history / Q000523:psychology