One nurse, Susan Kane, fainted after smelling the blood. Another nurse experienced a burning sensation in her face and arms. A respiratory therapist became dizzy, and within a few minutes, nearly a dozen medical staff members began to fall ill, with many passing out or experiencing muscle spasms.
On the evening of February 19, 1994, at the Riverside General Hospital in California, 31-year-old Gloria Ramirez was rushed into the emergency room. She was suffering from severe complications related to late-stage cervical cancer. She was confused, having trouble breathing, and her heart was beating very rapidly.
This is a true story from 1994, known as one of the most mysterious and frightening medical cases in modern history. The Story of Gloria Ramirez: The "Toxic Lady"
The situation was so severe that the hospital staff ordered an immediate evacuation of the emergency room. A small team remained behind to treat Gloria, while the rest of the ER was cleared. Gloria Ramirez unfortunately passed away shortly after.
Forensic scientists and investigators later proposed a theory to explain the incident:
Later, electrical shocks from defibrillation could have converted this into dimethyl sulfate, a highly toxic nerve gas.
The story remains a famous, tragic mystery in medical history.