Blood Brain Barrier

Hard working second year pediatric resident Dr. Eric Egan was just trying to get through one of his overnight emergency room shifts, when he was called to see a young baby with early signs of bacterial meningitis. Despite his frantic efforts the baby worsened and ended up in brain dead in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Stunned by the atypical rapidity of the baby’s demise and saddened by his first loss of a patient, he turned to the grief-stricken parents to give and receive comfort and learned that this baby, their only child, had been born after the culmination of years of trying and thousands of dollars spent on in vitro fertilization. He investigated and found two other cases of in vitro babies that suffered a similar fate, he began to question the safety of the new in vitro technique that has earned millions for it’s developer, Dr. Blake George. Egan teamed up with the brilliant and beautiful third year medical student, Gail Roscoe to further investigate and their actions drew increasing hostile attention from the powers at be at the renowned Malloy Medical Center. Egan and Roscoe put their careers and lives on the line as they raced against time, determined to get some answers.

Hard-working, second year pediatric resident Dr. Egan is chronically exhausted, as are most residents at Malloy Medical Center, a very busy New York CIty hospital that is humming with activity 24 hours a day and renowned for both its transplant service and in vitro fertilization clinic. One day Egan is woken at 3 AM to see a baby who has arrived in the emergency room with early signs of bacterial meningitis. Despite Egan's frantic efforts, the baby worsens and ends up brain dead in the pediatric intensive care unit. Stunned by his first loss of a patient, he turns to the grief-stricken parents to give and receive comfort and learns that this baby was born after the culmination of years of trying and thousands of dollars on in vitro fertilization. When Egan learns of two other instances of in vitro babies who suffer a similar fate, he begins to wonder about the safety of a new in vitro technique developed at the medical center. He teams up with the beautiful and brillinat Gail Roscoe, a third year medical student. Their questions draw the hostile attention of Dr. Blake George, developer of the new technique. Meanwhile, Prince Fasi of the Middle East, who has waited for years for his first born son, is not about to let him succumb to severe congenital heart disease and has the means and willingness to pay top dollar. He is winging his way to New York with his son, having been informed by Dr. Jack Newhouse, director of the hospital's pediatric ICU and transplant service that a perfect match is waiting. Egan and Roscoe must race against time to reveal what is happening at the medical center under the guise of assisted reproductive technology.

Peter Acker has been a practicing pediatrician for 25 years. He is currently a candidate for an MFA at Manhattanville College and is editor and columnist foth Westchester Physician. He lives in New York with his wife and two dogs.