The Current CBC Documentary, Not On My Watch
Jan 20, 2026
Guest
Clinicians (Dr. Chris Hahn / Dr. Aaron Mackey / Dr. Jada Johnson)
Guest
Emily (daughter) / Dot (mother) — Family interviewees
Guest
Nora Scott
Guest
John Chipman
Join John Chipman, CBC producer and documentary storyteller, as he dives into the harrowing journey of Nora Scott, who battled anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. Nora, alongside family members Emily and Dot, shares the emotional rollercoaster of misdiagnoses and desperate hospital stays. Medical experts Dr. Chris Hahn and Dr. Jada Johnson shed light on the complexities of autoimmune encephalitis and the vital importance of accurate diagnosis. Discover how advocacy and persistence ultimately led to Nora’s recovery and a deeper understanding of this rare condition.
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Transcript
Episode notes
Early Mislabeling As Bipolar
- Nora Scott's symptoms began with insomnia and escalated into fixations and chaotic behavior that worried her family.
- She was admitted to a psychiatric ward for 30 days where staff labeled her bipolar before her true condition was found years later.
Relapse Led To Correct Diagnosis
- Nora experienced a severe relapse in 2021 that left her confused, nonresponsive and later comatose at times.
- Doctors tried ECT with no effect before a new psychiatrist pursued further testing that revealed anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis.
Autoimmune Encephalitis Mimics Mental Illness
- Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis is an organic brain disease that mimics psychiatric disorders like psychosis and mania.
- Its rarity and psychiatric-like symptoms make it easy to misdiagnose without targeted testing.