Shaun Murphy Report for Asini’s HLSD

Subject: Shaun Murphy

Present with a diagnosis of autism and savant syndrome. Near-photographic recall and ability to note minute details and changes. Struggles with everyday communication skills and social cues.

Born: 1993 (age 26-27) in Casper, Wyoming, U.S. (Alive) Profession: Surgical Resident at St. Bonaventure, Pathologist (briefly)

Relationships Family:

• Marcie Murphy ♀
• Ethan Murphy ♂
• Steve Murphy (brother)
• Aaron Glassman (mentor and father figure)
• Sybil Meeks (ex-foster mother)

S.O:

• Lea Dilallo (girlfriend)
• Carly Lever (ex-girlfriend)

Shaun has “almost perfect recall”, extraordinary and genius-level intellect and excellent analytical abilities. He dislikes direct questions and confrontation. He is highly perceptive and often bluntly voices these perceptions. Eidetic memory & a highly visual learner. He perceives things in terms of abstract frameworks and concepts that he manipulates within his mind.

Autism heightened sensory sensitivity abnormal inflection when speaking avoids eye contact heavy reliance on routine easily fixated and obsessive on certain objects at times. (eg toy scalpel that steve (his brother) gave to him.) aversion to physical touch unless he himself chooses to initiate lack of cognitive empathy but possesses emotional empathy → he can pick up when someone is upset but often has trouble discerning why.

Despite Shaun’s troubled childhood, he maintains a generally positive outlook on life choosing to persue medicine in the hopes of improving the lives of others. He is very wary of forming deeper relationships with people after the death of his younger brother and his rabbit - these events clearly has an impact on Shaun’s ability to maintain and develop deep relationships well into his adulthood.

Shaun is very blunt at times - which has proven helpful. Shaun mentions having spent most of his life alone but enjoys the friends he has made as a doctor and the lack of loneliness he now feels. After being transferred to pathology Shaun struggles with the transition despite being able to save lives from a distance. Shaun makes it clear that he wishes to remain a surgical resident despite the issues that come with his communication skills. Doctor Jackson Hill believes that Shaun is able to function as a resident because he has the safety net of his attendings and fellow residents.

According to Glassman, Shaun may not communicate as well as others do but he does communicate and he is heard and continues to inspire others.

Another problem Shaun faces regarding communication is with his romantic relationships, in particular with Lea; Shaun is immediately attracted to her, but his lack of knowledge with regards to Romantic relationships leads to confusion.

Shaun has genuine feelings for Carly as shown when she asked him to speak with her instead of ignoring Carly if he had feelings for her at all. Carly is able to understand Shaun as she is said to have an autistic sister.

Shaun and Claire date informally, but Shaun struggles with the effects of his touch aversion upon their intimacy.

After spending the night sleeping comfortably with Lea and having a brief meltdown over the potential of being alone, Shaun appears to lose some of his aversion to touch.