Read Online Cell by Robin Cook - Free Book Online Page B

“Nice.
Much
better than I imagined.”
    â€œThe program is heuristic, too, like you heard at the presentation. So much so that my iDoc avatar has been learning to relate to me in the manner I like to be talked to. I can’t say that any of my primary-care doctors ever bothered to.”
    â€œYou have a point there.” George checked his watch. “I have to get back to the hospital.”
    â€œI’ll go out with you. I have to get back to the potential investors.”
    She accompanied George to the elevator. After the doors closed Paula said softly, “I wish your mother had had iDoc.”
    The comment startled him. “Thanks! Me, too.” George realized his mother might still be alive today if she had had such a device.
    â€œDuring the development process, I included a test that I named ‘Harriet.’ For your mom.”
    George turned and studied Paula’s face. He didn’t know what to say in response, as it was truly a generous gesture. Paula was full of surprises today.
    â€œAlso, I insisted that an anti-addiction program be included for specific drugs, alcohol, and particularly cigarettes, such that iDoc knows immediately when any are ingested. iDoc will interrupt and initiate a conversation with the patient. Not like after one glass of wine or anything, but if certain levels are reached or heavy habits established, it will take action.”
    While George was touched by her thinking of his mother, he couldn’t shake an underlying resistance to the app. “Won’t that be just plain irritating? Sounds like it could be viewed as Big Brother.”
    â€œI’m sure it is irritating to some people, and they can decline the conversation. If they do that, it won’t continue to hector them. But that is not what has happened in the beta test. In fact a number of our smokers have been able to quit. Immediate intervention with every episode seems to help a lot of people. Patients can’t hide their habit from iDoc because it constantly searches for offending agents.”
    â€œI guess that might be helpful,” he said, wondering if it might have gotten his mother to stop smoking, but he doubted it. She would have just turned the app off.
    â€œWell, thanks for the tour,” George said as they walked across the lobby. “And for inviting me to the presentation.” He thought briefly about bringing up the fact that Kasey had been part of the iDoc beta study and had died possibly because her phone had been charging, but he couldn’t do it. He didn’t want to think about Kasey, much less talk about her with Paula.
    â€œYou okay? With all of this?” Paula sensed George was a little overwhelmed.
    â€œWould it matter if I wasn’t?”
    â€œIt would matter to me. As I admitted, our talk those few years ago was my initial inspiration to pursue it.”
    â€œThanks. I appreciate that, but to be honest, I’m not sure how I feel. It’s a lot to get my head around. You guys—an insurance company—are assuming a lot of responsibility.” He put his hand out to shake. “It’s been an interesting morning. Thanks.”
    â€œThanks for coming. It meant a lot to me.”
    George smiled and turned to leave. Paula called after him.
    â€œWhy radiology?”
    George turned back. “What?”
    â€œWhy radiology? I always meant to ask you. After all the grief you gave me in medical school about the MD-MBA program and taking up space in medical school while never intending to practice medicine on real human beings—and here you end up in a residency program that, for the most part, avoids patient contact. It’s ironic. iDoc uses avatar doctors and you apparently prefer patient avatars in the image form of X-ray, MRI, and PET scans.”
    It was her second reference to his chosen specialty. Was she picking on him? Her tone didn’t sound like it, but he wasn’t sure. “There is