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Library | Material Type | Shelf Number | Child Count | Shelf Location | Status | Item Holds |
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Searching... Science | Book | 362.1969792 R660F, 1997 | 1 | Stacks | Searching... Unknown | Searching... Unavailable |
Searching... Science | Book | 362.1969792 R756F | 1 | Stacks | Searching... Unknown | Searching... Unavailable |
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Summary
Summary
This in-depth examination of a compelling public health case takes you step-by-step through the world of medical detective work, as the Centers for Disease Control determine whether Dr. Acer did infect Kimberly Bergalis and other patients, and, if so, whether Acers actions were accidents or acts of premeditated murder. At the same time, it raises a myriad of public health issues that are of concern to us all.
Fatal Extraction clearly shows how the Centers for Disease Control--and other government agencies--respond to the Bergalis case and similar incidents, examines why government officials act as they do, and questions what they can do differently. As the book unravels the mysteries surrounding Kimberly Bergaliss tragic infection, it informs readers of the actions we can expect (and should demand) our government to take to protect the health of patients, medical workers, and all citizens.
Mark Carl Rom is assistant professor of Government and Public Policy, Georgetown University, and a Robert Wood Johnson Scholar of Health Policy and Research at the University of California, Berkeley. Rom also served as Project Manager of the U.S. General Accounting Offices inquiry into the CDCs handling of the Bergalis/Acer case.
Reviews (4)
Kirkus Review
Using as his case in point the well-known Kimberly Bergalis incident--in which a dentist was suspected of having infected Bergalis and several other patients with the AIDS virus--Rom probes deeply into the question of how public health policy is made. As the principal investigator of the Government Accounting Office's inquiry into the federal Centers for Disease Control's handling of this case, Rom expected to find that the CDC had made major mistakes. Instead, he found the the agency to have been both competent and thorough. The author (Government and Public Policy/Georgetown Univ.) explores the reasons for criticism of the CDC's role by the media and by advocates of both patients' and health-care workers' interests. While finding that the HIV-positive dentist, David Acer, had indeed infected Bergalis and other patients, the CDC admitted that it was unable to determine how, and without this knowledge, it was hard-pressed to develop a policy aimed at preventing future incidents. After looking at the CDC's consideration of such issues as mandatory testing of health-care workers, practice restrictions, and patient notification, and its eventual development of some rather nebulous guidelines, Rom turns to the response of Congress and the actions by state legislatures, regulators, and courts. Their actions, he finds, have produced a mixture of ambiguous and contradictory rulings. The CDC, he concludes, is the proper agency for making health policy regarding HIV and medical personnel. However, it should have brought together advocates on all sides--patients, health-care workers, medical experts--and engaged them in seeking a common interest. Rom skillfully points out what that common interest is--improving the safety of both patients and health-care providers--and how focusing on competence rather than HIV status benefits both sides. Despite the provocative title, there's no sensationalism here- -just solid research and the calm and persuasive voice of reason.
Doody's Book Review
This book describes the emotion, politics, and policies that influenced the public health investigation of a Florida dentist suspected of infecting six of his patients with the HIV virus. The dentist and one patient died of AIDS. This book explorers the theories, implications, and complications of a highly visible case. The purpose is to answer the questions of who infected the patient who died and the other patients; how the infection occurred; and what should be done in the future to prevent the transmission of infections from health care workers to patients. The objectives as stated were the framework for the in-depth analysis of agencies, individuals, and policies involved in the what, why, and how of an epidemiological investigation filled with emotion, politics, and mystery. This book would be of interest to students, health professionals, administrators, and those responsible for public policy. The author is not a health professional, but was the principal investigator for t he U.S. Government Accounting Office investigation of the CDC handling of this case, and thus has access to a wealth of resource documentation. There are no illustrations in this book, nor are any needed. This book has excellent references. Each chapter has references specific to it. The references cover quotations, notes of individual investigators or principal parties, documents, policies, and procedures that provide insight and appreciation for the task that was undertaken. Reference choices indicate the author has injected subjective commentary. There is considerable repetition of subject matter in each chapter. Keeping in mind the book is authored by an assistant professor of government and public policy, the emphasis is in the area of health and public policy, and not necessarily public health epidemiology. The public health professional should be aware of the politics, emotion, and ambiguity often encountered in the profession. Because of the public policy focus, there ar e errors in the description of several of the dental areas. Even with subjective selection, the references do contribute to produce a well documented publication not previously available. The chapter on DNA sequencing was well done. There is an interesting mix of politics, policy making, science, public health, and emotion presented. This is a book that should be available to both health professionals and public policy makers. William R. Hall, DDS, MPH(University of Illinois at Chicago). Copyright 2001, Doody Publishing
Choice Review
In 1991 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the first case in the US of possible HIV transmission from a health care worker, a dentist, to Kimberly Bergalis while providing her with routine care. The report started a nationwide maelstrom of controversy, fear, and outrage and inspired numerous congressional investigations, an explosion of media coverage, and a public outcry for improved health care safety measures. Rom focuses on this case and attempts to determine who infected Bergalis and the five other patients who were also reported infected by the same dentist, how the infections occurred, and what should be done to prevent additional infections in the future. To appreciate fully the complexities of the case, he examines what the CDC did to accomplish its tasks, why it did those things, and how it might have done them better. Although the problem of HIV transmission in the health care environment may not be fully resolved, this book argues that the public can and should expect the government, medical providers, and patients to do more to make health care safer and more secure. An interesting and informative work. All levels. J. M. Howe; VA Medical Library, San Francisco
Library Journal Review
Despite its provocative title, this work is a thoroughly researched investigation of the case of Kimberly Bergalis and several other patients who apparently were infected with HIV by a Florida dentist during the late 1980s. The author, who served as principal investigator of the U.S. General Accounting Office's study of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's handling of this case, concludes that the agency did a good job, although the actual mode of transmission of the virus remains uncertain. The book discusses such thorny issues as confidentiality for both patients and healthcare providers and the difficulty of proving cause and effect in scientific research. The latter is an especially important concept for consumers, who, bombarded with health news in the popular media, might make decisions about their own health based on scanty scientific evidence. Because the incident in question occurred several years ago, readers might not find the book as compelling as they might were the story fresher. Nevertheless, it is recommended for public libraries.Linda Gleason, Univ. of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey Lib., Newark (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.