The Bourne Identity in Real Life

It's the basis of the Bourne Identity series by Robert Ludlum: a man awakens not knowing who or where is he. 

It's called Transient Global Amnesia, a temporary total loss of memory, a device often used in fiction.

Just to prove that this fictional reality exists in our world, consider the American who wakes up with amnesia speaking Swedish.  In fact, the man claims he cannot remember anything of past life after being found unconscious in a motel room in Palm Springs.  Michael Boatwright, 61, woke up with amnesia, calling himself Johan Ek, the Desert Sun reported.

Boatwright was found unconscious in February, and was transported to the Desert Regional medical center.  Hospital officials believe Boatwright may have been in town for a tennis tournament in the Coachella valley. He was found with a duffel bag of exercise clothes, a backpack and tennis rackets. He also carried a passport, a California identification card, a veteran's medical card and a social security card – all of which identified him as Michael Thomas Boatwright.
Of course, there are questions.  Is he faking it for some unknown reason?  That is a real possibility.  Is the CIA trying to assassinate him?  Or get him to do some hideous crime a la the Manchurian Candidate? 

The plot thickens.

Transient Global Amnesia
by Britt Talley Daniel Md
Powells.com

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