reacts to losing its essential organs, we may be able to find ways of compensating for such loss. For example, the absence of the liver will result in the rapid onset of blood poisoning. If we are able to accurately record this, then we can come up with alternative methods of blood purification, or even preventative measures—”
‘“But that’s basic medicine,” I interrupted. “Anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of anatomy could come to that conclusion. I’ve seen people with liver failure and jaundice. It’s not pleasant, but everyone understands what’s happening.”
‘“Yes . . . but those people are treated, they are made as comfortable as possible – they are not thoroughly studied. I intend to take that important step, to analyse the process from beginning to end, like no one has done before.” Soames looked down at the subject on the table. “I doubt this fellow’s liver would have served him much longer anyway.”
‘“Yes, but you are going to reattach it, aren’t you? Regardless of its condition?”
‘“Oh, come on,” Soames replied calmly. “He’s all but destroyed himself with alcohol. He could go at any time – look at him.”
‘“I really hope you’re not implying what I think—”
‘“Oh don’t be dense, man!” Soames’s explosive outburst surprised me. “Look, if it had been someone a little healthier then maybe I could have restored the organ after a brief period, but I can’t begin to think of the difficulty involved in securing a willing, healthy subject. Listen, I spoke to him at great length and explained everything. He’s consented fully to—”
‘“What? His death?”
‘“Well . . . yes. We can’t just throw away this golden opportunity—”
‘“No! No way, Soames. This is wrong, this is very, very wrong. You can’t just bloody kill the man!”
‘“Oh, what could he possibly have to live for? Let him make a contribution to medical science and give his pathetic life some meaning. I don’t understand why you’re trying to make this sound so macabre all of a sudden.”
‘“Because it is! It’s murder!”
‘“Is it? Is it murder if he’s consented? Is it murder if it leads to a valuable discovery? A discovery that could at some point save lives?”
‘“That’s speculation! You’re in no position to play with people’s lives, to play God!”
‘Soames fixed my gaze then, as though trying to convey something with his eyes that words couldn’t. He smiled. “Mather, my dear friend . . . we are gods.”
‘I felt my lips tremble, as though in readiness for a reply, but none was forthcoming. I had no answer to that. It was quite a while, in fact, before I was able to say anything.
‘“It was my understanding that you’d remove the organ, record the results, then put it back.”
‘Soames pursed his lips, looked down at the floor and, to my amazement, laughed. “Poor, poor Mather. God bless you. You really think it’s possible to take out the liver and put it back after what could be several minutes of separation? Your naivety is almost charming. Tell me, how exactly did you think I’d ensure life support during such a procedure? I was lucky to get these,” he said, gesturing at his instruments.
‘“You bastard! I’m not going to let you do this,” I spat. “I can’t allow it!”
‘“What do you mean you can’t allow it?” He was angry now. “Just who do you think you are?”
‘“I’m not going to let you murder this man. What did you expect to do if the university found out, or the police . . . ?”
‘“Let me deal with them. You came here to assist. This procedure is my responsibility. Now help me move him, would you?”
‘“No. I won’t.”
‘“I see.” Soames stood looking at me. He tapped his foot on the floor. “If you don’t help me now, I promise I’ll go through with this experiment anyway, and—”
‘“No you won’t—”
‘“Oh yes I will! You can’t watch me every
‘“But that’s basic medicine,” I interrupted. “Anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of anatomy could come to that conclusion. I’ve seen people with liver failure and jaundice. It’s not pleasant, but everyone understands what’s happening.”
‘“Yes . . . but those people are treated, they are made as comfortable as possible – they are not thoroughly studied. I intend to take that important step, to analyse the process from beginning to end, like no one has done before.” Soames looked down at the subject on the table. “I doubt this fellow’s liver would have served him much longer anyway.”
‘“Yes, but you are going to reattach it, aren’t you? Regardless of its condition?”
‘“Oh, come on,” Soames replied calmly. “He’s all but destroyed himself with alcohol. He could go at any time – look at him.”
‘“I really hope you’re not implying what I think—”
‘“Oh don’t be dense, man!” Soames’s explosive outburst surprised me. “Look, if it had been someone a little healthier then maybe I could have restored the organ after a brief period, but I can’t begin to think of the difficulty involved in securing a willing, healthy subject. Listen, I spoke to him at great length and explained everything. He’s consented fully to—”
‘“What? His death?”
‘“Well . . . yes. We can’t just throw away this golden opportunity—”
‘“No! No way, Soames. This is wrong, this is very, very wrong. You can’t just bloody kill the man!”
‘“Oh, what could he possibly have to live for? Let him make a contribution to medical science and give his pathetic life some meaning. I don’t understand why you’re trying to make this sound so macabre all of a sudden.”
‘“Because it is! It’s murder!”
‘“Is it? Is it murder if he’s consented? Is it murder if it leads to a valuable discovery? A discovery that could at some point save lives?”
‘“That’s speculation! You’re in no position to play with people’s lives, to play God!”
‘Soames fixed my gaze then, as though trying to convey something with his eyes that words couldn’t. He smiled. “Mather, my dear friend . . . we are gods.”
‘I felt my lips tremble, as though in readiness for a reply, but none was forthcoming. I had no answer to that. It was quite a while, in fact, before I was able to say anything.
‘“It was my understanding that you’d remove the organ, record the results, then put it back.”
‘Soames pursed his lips, looked down at the floor and, to my amazement, laughed. “Poor, poor Mather. God bless you. You really think it’s possible to take out the liver and put it back after what could be several minutes of separation? Your naivety is almost charming. Tell me, how exactly did you think I’d ensure life support during such a procedure? I was lucky to get these,” he said, gesturing at his instruments.
‘“You bastard! I’m not going to let you do this,” I spat. “I can’t allow it!”
‘“What do you mean you can’t allow it?” He was angry now. “Just who do you think you are?”
‘“I’m not going to let you murder this man. What did you expect to do if the university found out, or the police . . . ?”
‘“Let me deal with them. You came here to assist. This procedure is my responsibility. Now help me move him, would you?”
‘“No. I won’t.”
‘“I see.” Soames stood looking at me. He tapped his foot on the floor. “If you don’t help me now, I promise I’ll go through with this experiment anyway, and—”
‘“No you won’t—”
‘“Oh yes I will! You can’t watch me every
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