Customer Reviews

Blood Saga: Hemophilia, AIDS, and the Survival of a Community, Updated Edition With a New Preface

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Fascinating read where the cure for the hemophilia community ended up killing those it meant to save. Resnick's style makes easy reading of a complex story.

Personally, I find Ms. Resnick's book fascinating. She gives a very good outline of the history of hemophila and how advances in technology became both a savior and a downfall to the community. I dont think she sweeps anything "under the rug." I think the prior poster needs to consider that at the time this book was written, the verdict was not completely out yet and Resnick wanted to take a more historical approach to determine how the initial corporate-patient group relationships were formed and how the problem arose in the first place.

The structure and story given by Ms. Resnick I believe comes across as objective as possible, which is difficult to prepare on a topic such as this. I think is actually a cautionary tale to medical patient communities and how they should NOT too closely align themselves with corporate entities, and how small accessions can lead to a slippery slope to total integration of the two.

Unfortunately, at the time clotting drugs came on the market what other choice did affected families have? The results were SO drastic and the alternative outcomes SO different, patients had no option. As Resnick points out, they really had no alternative but to become "canaries in a mine shaft," at the time they were canaries for the blood supply, they have now also become canaries about corporate-patient relationships.

Shame on the author for participating in the widespread "sweeping under the carpet".

The blood distributors deliberately sold infected hemophilia products and millions were infected with hepatitis, AIDS, etc. They intentionally used risky paid donors and unsafe manufacturing techniques because they figured the hemophiliacs were a small group they could abuse w/o anyone caring, and they'd be dead without the medications anyway. When they encountered resistance from the government, they just bribed and strong armed the government to let them keep doing these things--long after it wasn't legal to use these tactics to make blood products for non-hemophiliacs.

National Hemophilia Foundation sold their soul by taking big payments from these companies and even testified in court against the hemophiliacs.

There has never been any meaningful or comprehensive apology/retribution to those affected.

A more truthful retelling of this story is: [...]