Informed Consent
by Sandra Glahn

List Price: $13.99
Pages: 315
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 1589191099
Publisher: David C. Cook Distribution

A medical researcher comes face-to-face with the unfathomable love required to sacrifice an only son.

Jeremy Cramer, MD, is the Einstein of infectious disease research. While working on a way to revive water-submersion victims, he makes a breakthrough discover in AIDS research that thrusts him into the center of a media frenzy. But the publicity turns negative, and his marriage reaches the breaking point when he accidentally infects a colleague and his negligence allows his son to contract a life-threatening disease. The viruses test the limits of his new formula—and his ethics. In the midst of his frantic efforts to save his son and marriage, he must decide whether to allow his child to die or violate the rights of a young transplant donor.

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1. Why is saving drowning victims more important to Jeremy than saving millions of people dying of AIDS?

2. Do you agree with Jeremy’s research priorities? Why or why not?

3. What is your opinion of Jeremy and Devin’s relationship, both in the workplace and as doctor/patient?

4. What do you know about AIDS? What, if anything, has been your involvement with the issue?

5. How do your views on end-of-life issues compare with Devin’s?

6. Do you share Devin’s view of the afterlife? Why or why not?

7. What, if any, medical treatment would you want if you had a terminal illness?

8. What is your assessment of Angie and Jeremy’s relationship? If you were counseling them, what would you advise?

9. What, if any, racial factors complicate Angie and Jeremy’s relationship?

10. How would you describe Jeremy’s relationship with Angie’s parents?

11. Do you think Jeremy contributed to his father’s death? To Jak’s illness? Why or why not?

12. Is Jeremy’s guilt false or valid? Why?

13. Do you agree with Devin’s understanding of why bad things happen to good people? Why or why not?

14. What do you think drives Barlow?

15. Do you share Barlow’s degree of commitment to patients’ rights? Why or why not?

16. What motivates Castillo, the chief of staff? Have you ever had to work for someone who had the same weaknesses as Castillo? What was it like?

17. What, if any, is your experience with organ donation? Would you consider being a donor? Why or why not?

18. Do you think Jeremy made the right choice in the end? Why or why not?

19. What do you think would have happened if Jeremy had decided against taking the healthy heart? To his marriage? To his career?

20. These are the seven deadly sins: pride, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed, sloth. Which of these do you see exhibited in the characters and by whom?

21. The theological virtues are faith, hope and love. Which of these and in which characters do you find them in Informed Consent?

22. How would you describe Jeremy’s spiritual journey?

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