Cure

Title: Cure

Author: Robin Cook

Publisher:  Pan Books, 2010 (First)

ISBN: 978-0-330-52382-0

Pages: 459

Robin Cook’s mastery over medical thrillers is an acknowledged fact as evidenced by numerous books originated from his experienced pen. They don’t disappoint the reader and provides for good infotainment channeled in through easy, flowing language and neatly paraphrased concepts. Indeed, simply by looking at the theme of Cook’s books, readers get a clear sense of the direction in which the healthcare industry is moving forward. Just spell out the recent developments in medicine, and Robin Cook is sure to have produced a best-seller on the topic, whether it is genetic tinkering, manipulations of the brain or as in the present issue, induced pluripotent stem cells.

Stem cells are the next big thing in biology. These are special cells which can grow to become any of the 300-odd types of cells in human body. Skin cells, nerve cells, heart tissue, muscles, whatever it may, stem cell can be induced to grow into it. This is definitely impressive, being the cure of many degenerative diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s or Type 2 diabetes. If we can artificially produce brain cells or pancreatic cells in the above cases, the treatment is simple as to replace the damaged part. However, getting stem cells for culture is the most tricky part. The simplest route is to do an abortion on a growing embryo which is full of stem cells and take it out for research. Quite understandably, the unethical nature of the process has attracted widespread criticism and opposition from pro-life groups. The U.S. has effectively banned or very severely restricted access to this route. This has forced academicians and industrial researchers to turn to adult stem cells, found in every human, to bring about the necessary treatment regimen. The field is chaotic with huge number of patents filed for universities and companies active in the field. Any one good enough to produce an easy to manufacture solution is to end up one of the richest men in the world.

Cook’s present book details one such company, iPS USA, illegally acquiring rights for patents which is due to a Japanese university. The Japanese government wants to get its rights back and employs Yakuza (mafia in Japan) for forcibly obtaining a pair of critical lab books from the American company. In the typical scenario involving organized crime and big money, several murders take place, some of them cleverly designed to look like natural ones. Laurie Montgomery, the medical examiner in New York who is returning to work after prolonged absence on family reasons suspect foul play and tries to bring out the truth and the perpetrators. The New York mafia, which bankrolled the company kicks into action, kidnapping Laurie’s only child. The medical examiner employs a kidnapping consultant firm, which is a euphemism for activities which are criminal to snatch the child back from the thugs. Like other works before this one, everything ends in a pleasant note.

What is troublesome with the presentation is the casual way in which criminality is acknowledged as a normal and unalienable part of modern life, be it in Japan or the U.S. The Japanese government is portrayed as quite incompetent to get what they wanted legally from America, with a minister running discussions with a local mafia don to do it for them. Things are not bright on the other side of the ocean too. A New York detective captain is shown urging the unfortunate parents of the abducted child to hire a ‘consultant’ who is nothing but another criminal organisation. The reason for admitting the unconventional elements is described as the legal wrangles which bind the police and law enforcement agencies in performing such delicate work. In the end, the readers end up with the notion that both these advanced industrialized countries are run by criminal societies cooperating across borders.

The book is also not as appealing as Cook’s other titles boasting medical thrillers. This book is mostly thriller and nothing fundamentally medical in it.  After a cursory introduction to pluripotent stem cells, the storyline goes forever detached to action packed sequences, with no reference to the topic of attraction. Though there is no denying that it is very handsomely organized, we end up with a sense of disillusionment at the end.

The book is recommended.

Rating: 3 Star