Miracle Drug

Read Miracle Drug Storyline:

Ex-President David Rush, still active after two terms in the White House, consults his doctor to get shots for a trip to remote area of South America, with an eye toward establishing a clinic. He does just that, but gets back and develops severe sore throat, fever, and generalized constitutional symptoms. He’s sicker than one would expect with an uncomplicated infection. His usual doctor, a childhood friend who administered his immunizations, has been killed in a hit-and-run accident, and his partner, Dr. Kirby Mason, becomes Rush’s doctor. He notes a membranous pharyngitis. Rush’s airway is compromised, and he requires a tracheotomy. The original diagnosis is diphtheria, which is endemic in the country where Rush travelled. Kirby can’t understand it. Rush was immunized before he travelled, but maybe the D-T booster didn’t work. The only other person infected is Rachel, a hospital nurse and Kirby’s girl friend, who took vacation to accompany the group. Kirby is called on to treat her as well. She isn’t quite as sick as Rush, but doesn’t respond well to conventional treatment. No other members of the protective detail and delegation, which has scattered, are ill. They all got the same boosters as the President, but for some reason, only he was infected. Rush’s former chief of staff, Diane Marx, now his aide, insists on being kept informed. Kirby finds her abrasive, yet can’t deny an attraction to her. Current treatment for diphtheria is based on antitoxin, but there’s a huge shortage. Kirby is unable to obtain it quickly and Rush’s condition is deteriorating. There’s been no response to penicillin, which is the treatment of choice for diphtheria, or to other antibiotics. Kirby calls a friend and medical school classmate who is at the Centers For Disease Control. The colleague says there have been a few reported cases from South American of a drug-resistant “DLI” (diphtheria-like-illness). The friend mentions that there’s no effective treatment except supportive measures, but the FDA not long ago denied approval of a new antibiotic from Aesculapius Pharmaceuticals because it wasn’t effective against common pathogens. However, given other data presented in the application, it might work on this infection. Kirby argues with various people at Aesculapius but finally receives a small supply of the drug. He administers it to Rush, who slowly improves. Rachel likewise responds to treatment. However, in a couple of weeks, Rush exhibits strange behavior. Could this be a side effect of the medication or of the infection? It’s almost as though someone were controlling Rush’s thoughts and actions. Rachel shows no such signs—yet. Was the original doctor killed to prevent him from finding out that placebo had been substituted for D-T booster for Rush?