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We
are pleased to present the following
excerpt from the book
Noble
Vision
by Gen LaGreca
Winged Victory Press -
January 2005
This
excerpt involves a confrontation between
protagonist Dr. David Lang and Dr. Alice
Cook, director of medical research at the
Bureau of Medicine (BOM). The BOM manages
New York State's healthcare program,
CareFree, which all medical facilities and
practitioners were forced to adopt in the
near past. Dr. David Lang has just
presented his arguments for funding his
research, which promises to revolutionize
the treatment of brain and spine injuries
with a process for regenerating nerve
tissue. It is up to the BOM to decide
whether or not to allow this research to
proceed.
"Humane
Treatment"
Dr. Alice Cook stepped behind the
podium, as if to maintain a barrier
between her and the green eyes [of
David Lang] staring insolently from a
seat at the table.
"Dr. Lang, after careful consideration,
the committee finds that although your
work is valuable, it regrettably falls
outside the scope of our more pressing
social needs. Many people now question the
wisdom of spending large sums for the
benefit of a small minority when the
majority funding universal health care has
other concerns. We must weigh the relative
value to society of offering one
ground-breaking surgery to the few
individuals needing it against providing,
for example, one thousand pairs of contact
lenses to those needing better
vision."
She paused as if expecting a polite nod
from David but received none.
"You know, of course, that your
research has been attempted by countless
others and always ended in failure,
despite the initially promising outcome of
a few isolated experiments. I'm afraid we
have a responsibility to allocate public
funds for projects benefiting more people
and having greater chances of
success."
David scanned the faces of committee
members, who nodded in agreement. Like a
jury in the presence of a judge, the
others let Dr. Cook do the talking.
"Unfortunately, our budget is limited,
and for every project we approve, there
are twenty we must decline," Dr. Cook
continued. "However, we want to thank you,
Dr. Lang, for the opportunity to consider
your research. Please feel free to submit
other proposals to us. And we wish you
success in your career."
Dr. Cook smiled, but David did not
return the courtesy.
"Frankly, Dr. Cook," he said, his voice
solemn, his eyes intense, "I don't want
the public to fund my research. I don't
want to have to fit in with what this
committee thinks it needs or feels will
succeed. I just want to be left alone to
finish my work. I want to procure
laboratory animals and conduct experiments
at my own expense or with the aid of
investors as a private venture. I'm
prepared to do that. Now if my work
doesn't cost the public a dime, then this
committee should not have the power to
object."
"But we do have that power, Dr. Lang.
You know the law," replied Dr. Cook. Her
voice remained coolly polite, despite the
flush that formed on her cheeks. "Animals
are protected. Their use in research is
limited to projects approved by the state.
We can't allow anyone who feels like it to
butcher animals. That wouldn't be
humane."
"Is it humane to squash seven years of
research and stand in the way of
progress?"
"It's not progress, Dr. Lang, when
researchers go off half-cocked and are
unaccountable to society,' said Dr. Cook,
her voice rising. "To conduct animal
experiments without the proper
authorization would be a serious
infraction of the law."
One person folded his glasses into a
case; another reached for her purse. Dr.
Cook gathered her papers. The meeting was
over for all but David.
"Where does that leave me and the
thousands of patients who would want my
new procedure, Dr. Cook? Would these
patients think it humane of you to spare
the animals and prevent me from properly
testing the treatment on them first?"
"You know perfectly well that I don't
mean you can experiment on humans instead.
You first have to complete the animal
trials."
"But thanks to this committee, I can't
do the animal trials!"
"To perform your procedure and use your
untested drugs on a human subject without
first obtaining exhaustive animal studies
and the proper regulatory approvals could
expose you to serious consequences, Dr.
Lang, including loss of your license" --
Dr. Cook's voice dropped -- "and even
charges of manslaughter. Consider yourself
warned."
David sprang from his chair and
approached the podium to retrieve the
briefcase he had left there. He walked
unduly close to the petite woman, his tall
form towering over her, his face not with
anger, his voice heavy with contempt.
"Seven people sitting in a room don't have
the right to tell me how to do my work.
Seven people don't have the right to deny
thousands of patients a treatment they'd
want to have. Seven people can't run
medicine for the rest of us, Dr.
Cook!"
Cool air rushed into the stuffy room as
David swung the door open and left.
Copyright © 2004
by Genevieve LaGreca and reproduced with
permission.
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