On February 19th, 1994, 31-year-old Gloria Ramirez was rushed to Riverside General Hospital after suffering severe heart palpitations, possibly caused by her advanced cervical cancer. In the ER, hospital staff began to work to try and save Gloria’s life – and that’s where the strangeness started.

Nurses, residents, and technicians alike began to complain of severe symptoms after Gloria’s blood was taken, noting a strange chemical-like smell coming from her body. Then, these very same seasoned medical professionals started to faint, convulse, and need to be admitted to the hospital themselves as patients. Gloria Ramirez would pass away less than an hour after she arrived at Riverside, but the mystery of how her body may have caused illness in those giving her medical care was only beginning.

It seemed clear that, if there was a tangible cause, it was likely some kind of airborne toxin…but what? Tests were inconclusive, until a fluke connection made between chemical compounds possibly cracked the case wide open.

This week, Carrie takes us through the bizarre case of “The Toxic Lady”, and how the questions posed by Gloria Ramirez’ death may affect the scientific community even now, 3 decades on.

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