Middle age doctor desperate to obtain funding for his radical new genetic engineering procedure to develop stem cell research into use to cure human disease. US Senator is opposing his research, but then offers his support in exchange for treatment of his own illness - and keeping that secret. A clinic in Carribean is chosen because the doctors in charge are eager to take chances for money and the Senator is willing to pay. These doctors cut corners on the care they can provide - with catastrophic results. The treatment of the Senator is undertaken without knowledge of the FDA and outside of acceptable scientific protocal.
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The review of this Book prepared by Terri
Putnam, July 2003, 24.95, 480 pp.
ISBN 0399148760
Dr. Daniel Lowell leaves his secured tenured position as chairman of his department at Harvard to open his own research company specializing in gene therapy. He develops the HTSR technique, which involves replacing a part of a person's DNA that causes a particular disease with DNA that is disease free. His research is so cutting edge that Senator Ashley Butler is sponsoring a bill that will outlaw the technique. Senator Butler, the most powerful man in the Senate is diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, which will end his hopes for running for president.
Unable and unwilling to accept defeat the senator approaches Daniel with a proposal that will benefit them both. He will quietly drop his opposition to HTSR if Daniel will use that technique to cure him. He also wants the DNA to be used to come from the Shroud of Turin and he uses his powerful connections to get the Church to give Daniel a sample. The operation will take place in a private medical facility in the Bahamas if Daniel and his beautiful assistant can outrun and outwit Italian police and Mafia hitmen.
Robin Cook once again takes readers to the edge with this action-packed chilling medical thriller. He raises some very interesting social and moral issues and make it clear that politicians should not be the ones who decide whether a new medical technique should be available to the general public. SEIZURE is Robin Cook at his very best.
Harriet Klausner
The review of this Book prepared by Harriet Klausner
