- Excerpt
NOBLE VISION
by Gen LaGreca
INTRODUCTION
The excerpt, below, is from the new book, Noble Vision,
a thinking person's thriller that blends medicine, romance, and individualism. Noble
Vision is the story of brain surgeon David Lang, on trial for
performing unauthorized surgery under a state-run healthcare system.
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 arguments
for funding his research, which promises to revolutionize the treatment
of brain and spine injuries using a process for regenerating injured
nerve tissue. It is up to the BOM to decide whether or not to allow
this research to proceed.
Author Genevieve "Gen" LaGreca
holds degrees in chemistry and philosophy. She has worked as a pharmaceutical
chemist, business owner, and healthcare writer. She writes accurately
about the human brain for those who enjoy using theirs. More information
about the author and the book, Noble Vision, follows the excerpt.
Enjoy!
"Is It Humane?"
by Gen LaGreca
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."
Dr. Cook 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 hot 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 (c) 2005 by Genevieve LaGreca. All Rights
Reserved. Please feel free to duplicate and distribute this file, as
long as the excerpt is not altered and this copyright notice is intact.
Thank you.
