A Molecule from Madness: An Exploration into Patients’ Illnesses through West Texas Polio
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to review this interesting paper. I think it is excellently written, and also talks about the subject that is often not mentioned in the university or in clinical work, narrative medicine in the context of neurology. The author gives a very extensive review of the literature but also presents an illustrative story of the patient.
Author Response
Thank you!
Reviewer 2 Report
I read this paper and to my understanding, this doesn't look like an article but more of a review, essay, or personal opinion paper. There are no experiments, methods or figures (other than two photographs of an individual). In the permissions section, the author says that images are created by author, how did he create photographs of an individual with polio? It looks like a massive permissions issue to me.Author Response
I read this paper and to my understanding, this doesn't look like an article but more of a review, essay, or personal opinion paper. There are no experiments, methods or figures (other than two photographs of an individual). In the permissions section, the author says that images are created by author, how did he create photographs of an individual with polio? It looks like a massive permissions issue to me.
-I appreciate the reviewer’s comment. This manuscript is more of a communication/review. I will change that in the manuscript. In addition, I uploaded the patient permission signed for the use of the photo
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
It was my pleasure to review the manuscript “A Molecule from Madness: An Exploration into Patient's Illnesses through West Texas Polio”. This article describes the doctor-patient relationship in neurological practice and why it is necessary for a doctor to know how to listen to patients.
The abstract is concise and fully explained the reason for the paper.
The introduction is a bringing topic, later discussed with details.
Topics of compassion, determination, and patience are introduced.
The Impact of Illness on Identity, Emotional response to serious Illness, Coping and renewal, Life after illness are discussed in detail and depth.
There is no method or results section in the manuscript. A manuscript is helpful for doctors and patients with neurological conditions and touches on important topics such as doctor vulnerability, courage to accept own weakness, and empathy. The manuscript could be helpful in education and conversation with doctors in training. It is not clear why personal stories about the Polio epidemic in West Texas elaborate the author’s position on courage to understand.
The conclusion is well written. It would be helpful to clarify the statement that “What we need is not more knowledge. What we need is courage” in line 746.
Limitations of the manuscript are not addressed.
Author Response
It was my pleasure to review the manuscript “A Molecule from Madness: An Exploration into Patient's Illnesses through West Texas Polio”. This article describes the doctor-patient relationship in neurological practice and why it is necessary for a doctor to know how to listen to patients.
The abstract is concise and fully explained the reason for the paper. The introduction is a bringing topic, later discussed with details. Topics of compassion, determination, and patience are introduced. The Impact of Illness on Identity, Emotional response to serious Illness, Coping and renewal, Life after illness are discussed in detail and depth.
Thank you for your response. I appreciate the compliment
There is no method or results section in the manuscript.
-Thank you for your response. This paper was a communication. I will change that in the manuscript.
A manuscript is helpful for doctors and patients with neurological conditions and touches on important topics such as doctor vulnerability, courage to accept own weakness, and empathy. The manuscript could be helpful in education and conversation with doctors in training. It is not clear why personal stories about the Polio epidemic in West Texas elaborate the author’s position on courage to understand.
-We appreciate the reviewer’s comment. I added the polio pandemic in West Texas as a direct application of the different ideas mentioned previously with a patient I directly interacted with.
The conclusion is well written. It would be helpful to clarify the statement that “What we need is not more knowledge. What we need is courage” in line 746.
Thank you for your response. I appreciate the compliment
Limitations of the manuscript are not addressed.
-Thank you for your comment. The manuscript is a communication article type on a specific topic. It is not a data manuscript.
Reviewer 4 Report
Dear authors,
with interest i read your paper and found it well writen with good scientific soundness, the conclusion is well presented but there are some very old references to be updated,
regards
Author Response
with interest i read your paper and found it well writen with good scientific soundness, the conclusion is well presented but there are some very old references to be updated,
Thank you for your comment. I will add some more updated citations to the paper.
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Its a very nice opinion paper and I appreciate getting the permission from the patient to use the picture in the paper. However, in the permissions section it still says that the image is created by the author and no outside permissions are needed. Could the authors edit this well? And could author refernce this supplemental file in the manuscript as well, preferably in the Figure legend?
Author Response
We appreciate the reviewer's comment. We updated the permissions in the paper and added a similar statement in the manuscript. The journal will have the signed permission form, which can be given if asked.
