After making a grand gesture to look at his watch, Sinclair said, “I see we still have ten minutes. As some of you may already know, Dr. Wyatt has kindly agreed to serve as a guest professor so that he might offer his expert opinion regarding our GNS patients.”
Jack inhaled sharply and then shifted his eyes to Helen Morales. The solemn look on her face betrayed what she was thinking. She had made her feelings clear to him that there would be no discussion of GNS. He was sure she must have told Sinclair the same thing. Already having a sense for her astute political skills, Jack wasn’t surprised when she didn’t rise to put a stop to Sinclair’s uninvited commentary.
“With this growing national epidemic,” Sinclair continued, “I was hoping our distinguished guest from Ohio might offer us his insight into these very intriguing and challenging cases?”
As soon as Sinclair stepped aside, Jack returned to the lectern.
“Unfortunately, I find myself in the same position as my colleagues are across the country. I have no theory as to what’s causing GNS. Hopefully, that will change in the days to come. I would mention, however, that Dr. Sinclair and his team have done an outstanding job in caring for these patients.”
Sinclair moved toward the edge of the stage. He scanned the front row of seats.
“I see Dr. Lewis is with us today. I’m sure we’d all like to hear her opinion on a possible cause for GNS.”
Carmella Lewis was Southeastern State’s longstanding chief of infectious diseases. She had been involved since the first GNS patient had been admitted. She and her team had consulted on every case and were in constant communication with the CDC.
She stood up and waited for one of the audiovisual technicians to trot down the center aisle and hand her a microphone.
“We have done extensive diagnostic tests but to date we’ve not been able to identify either a bacterial or viral cause for GNS. Although we haven’t entirely excluded the possibility, we have no evidence at this time that GNS is a contagious disease. I believe the CDC has reached a similar conclusion.”
“Have you considered that this disease might be a new strain of parvovirus?” Sinclair asked.
It wasn’t hard for Jack to understand the astonished look that instantly swept across Carmella’s face. Sinclair cared for patients with neurologic problems. He had no training or expertise in the specialty of infectious diseases. His question was at the least inappropriate and at the most insulting. Jack’s eyes shifted to Helen. From the perturbed look on her face, he assumed she shared his sentiments.
Ever the diplomat, Carmella responded, “We certainly considered a parvovirus infection but all of the blood tests were negative. We therefore dismissed the diagnosis. I believe the CDC followed a similar protocol and arrived at the same conclusion.”
“I’m aware of those results, but based on the extraordinary nature of this illness, I contacted Carson McPherson.” Jack was quite familiar with Dr. McPherson. He was a nationally renowned professor of infectious diseases with particular expertise in viruses. He had spent most of his career at Yale Medical School but was now at the National Institutes of Health in Washington. “Dr. McPherson and I had a lengthy discussion and we both feel that the symptoms of GNS are quite consistent with a new strain of parvovirus that’s never been seen before.”
The pained look on Carmella’s face was understandable, considering she had just been thrown to the curb by a fellow physician. Basic professional courtesy would have dictated that Sinclair share his parvovirus infection theory with Carmella before publicly asking for her opinion.
“I haven’t spoken with Dr. McPherson, so it would be difficult for me to comment on his thoughts. That being said, Dr. Sinclair, I will again state that based on these patients’ natural immunity and the tests we conducted, we have ruled out a parvovirus infection as a possible cause of GNS. And if I’m not mistaken, the CDC has done the same thing.”
Sinclair wasted no time returning to the lectern, where he took up the position as the self-appointed principle speaker.
“Thank you, Dr. Lewis. In response to your comments, I would like to point out that Dr. McPherson feels it’s a strong possibility we may be dealing with a new strain of parvovirus that our current tests wouldn’t detect.”
Sinclair’s comments were met with a flurry of raised hands. He recognized Kenton Biggs, the chief of internal medicine.
“Are you saying the CDC and most of our leading experts in the area of contagious diseases are wrong?”
“That’s precisely what I’m saying. And the sooner we realize it, the sooner we can shift our focus in the right direction and begin helping these women and their unborn infants. There’s credible data suggesting that certain drugs are quite effective in treating parvovirus.”
Helen had already come to her feet and was quick-walking toward the center of the stage. Before Sinclair could make any further comments, she reached the lectern.
“It’s already a few minutes past the hour, so I’m afraid we’ll have to end the discussion here. I want to again thank Dr. Wyatt for agreeing to lead today’s conference. This has certainly been one of the more lively discussions we’ve had in quite some time.” She turned toward Jack and began to applaud. The audience followed. Sinclair wasted no time in descending the stage and falling in amongst the physicians who were quick to barrage him with questions.
“That was very well done,” she told Jack, motioning to Madison to join them.
“Thank you,” he responded, seeing no reason to offer any thoughts on Sinclair’s inappropriate behavior.
“Maybe it would be a good idea for us to get together later today,” Helen suggested. “Say about four in my office? I’m going to ask Dr. Sinclair to join us. I want to hear more about his parvovirus theory.”
At that moment, Paul Boland, one of the senior radiation oncologists strolled up.
“That was an excellent presentation,” he told Jack in a South African accent that hadn’t faded a drop since he’d moved to the United States twenty-seven years earlier. Boland then turned his attention to Helen. “I wonder if I could have five minutes of your time. I’m afraid my department is in dire need of your help.”
“Of course, Paul. We can talk in my office.”
Helen turned to Jack and Madison. “I’ll plan on seeing you two at four.”
Jack was well aware Helen Morales hadn’t reached the position in academic medicine she had without learning how to sidestep a few politically charged landmines. This was one of those situations. Jack suspected she was seething but her manner was controlled and diplomatic. He wondered if she would be as calm at their four o’clock meeting.