Ms Aston was suspected of pretending to faint, experience fever, and suffer a cough.
The New Zealand Herald has reported that Stephanie Aston, a 33-year-old woman from New York, who was accused of pretending to have an illness, died on September 1 in Auckland due to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.
Ms Aston became a patient advocate after being diagnosed with EDS symptoms that were mislabeled by doctors and attributed to mental illness. She was only 25 years old when the symptoms first appeared in October 2015, as reported by The Independent.
EDS, an inherited disorder that weakens connective tissues, is reported by the NIH. It typically affects your skin, joints, and blood vessel walls. Symptoms include loose joints; fragile and small blood vessels; abnormal scar formation and wound healing; soft, supple skin with lots of pressure (bruising).
The NIH states that there are various kinds of EDS. It can range from mild to life-threatening. There is no cure for EDD, which affects around 1 in every 5,000 people. People with EDM can manage their symptoms through treatment, often including drugs and physical therapy.
The New Zealand Herald reported that Ms Aston was contacted by doctors after experiencing symptoms such as severe migraines, abdominal pain, joint dislocations and other conditions. She was also admitted to Auckland Hospital, where a doctor accused her of falsifying her symptoms.
Due to this accusation, she was placed on psychiatric care. Regrettably, her body was subjected to rectal tests and she had also been charged with engaging in self-injurious behaviours. She was also accused of pretending to experience fainting spells, fevers (like jaundice), and difficulty breathing (similarly linked to coughing fits).
Ms Aston was diagnosed with EDS, a genetic connective tissue disorder, by three specialists.
According to Kelly McQuillan, the founder of Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes New Zealand, Aston’s death has caused a stir within the EDS community, with reports from the New York Post suggesting that little has changed since his passing.
She said: ‘There’s a lot of lost souls.
“In my experience, those who are in uncommon positions or with invisible diseases often encounter setbacks and disbelief due to the absence of visible symptoms.