"james_alan_gardner_-_three_hearings_on_the_existence_of_snakes_in_the_human_bloodstream" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gardner James Alan)

don't you?"
The sharp catch of bile rose in Julia's throat. For a moment, she
couldn't find the strength to fight it; but she couldn't be sick, not in
front of these men. Swallowing hard, she forced herself to breathe evenly
until the moment passed. "Senators," she said at last, "do you actually
intend to suppress trisulphozymase? To withhold life-saving treatment from
those who need it?"
"Some might say it's a sign," McCarthy answered, "that a Redeemed man
can father a child on a Papist without complications, but it doesn't work
the other way around. Doesn't that sound like a sign to you?"
"Senators," she said, ignoring McCarthy, "does this Committee intend to
suppress trisulphozymase?"
Silence. Then McCarthy gave a little smile. "How does trisulphozymase
work, doctor?"
Julia stared at him, wondering where this new question was going.
Warily, she replied, "The drug dismantles the SA factor enzyme into basic
amino acids. This prevents a more dangerous response from the mother's
immune system, which might otherwise produce antibodies to the enzyme. The
antibodies are the real problem, because they may attack the baby's--"
"So what you're saying," McCarthy interrupted, "is that this drug can
destroy the snakes in a Papist's bloodstream?"
"I told you, there are no snakes! Trisulphozymase temporarily
eliminates the extra clotting enzyme that comes from SA-positive blood."
"It's only temporary?"
"That's all that's needed. One injection shortly before the moment of
birth--"
"But what about repeated doses?" McCarthy interrupted. "Or a massive
dose? Could you permanently wipe out the SA factor in a person's blood?"
"You don't administer trisulphozymase to an SA-positive person," Julia
said. "It's given to an SA-negative mother to prevent--"
"But suppose you did give it to a Papist. A big dose. Lots of doses.
Could it destroy the SA factor forever?" He leaned forward eagerly. "Could
it make them like us?"
And now Julia saw it: what this hearing was all about. Because the
Committee couldn't really suppress the treatment, could they? Her results
were known in the research community. Even if the drug were banned here,
other countries would use it; and there would eventually be enough public
pressure to force re-evaluation. This wasn't about the lives of babies and
mothers; this was about clipping the devil's horns.
Keeping her voice steady, she said, "It would be unconscionable to
administer this drug or any other to a person whose health did not require
it. Large doses or long-term use of trisulphozymase would have side effects
I could not venture to guess." The faces in front of her showed no
expression. "Gentlemen," she tried again, "in an SA-positive person, the
enzyme is natural. A natural component of blood. To interfere with a body's
natural functioning when there is no medical justification..." she threw up
her hands. "Do no harm, gentlemen. The heart of the Hippocratic Oath. At the
very least, doctors must done harm."
"Does that mean," McCarthy asked, "that you would refuse to head a
research project into this matter?"