Most extreme case of Munchausen's syndrome

The most extreme recorded case of the rare and incurable condition known as `Munchausen's syndrome' (a continual desire to have medical treatment) was Irish-born Stewart McIlroy, who cost the National Health Service an estimated £2.5 million during his 50-year career as a hospital patient.  During that time he had 400 major and minor operations, and stayed at 100 different hospitals using 22 aliases. The longest period he was ever out of hospital was six months.

In 1979, he hung up his bedpan for the last time, saying he was sick of hospitals, and retired. He died at St Brendan's Hospital, Dublin in 1983 of pneumonia.