A Life for a Life Read Online Free

loss, some tissue necrosis on extravasion.’
    ‘What about neurological and psychotic effects?’
    ‘There is some neuropathy, as there is with all—’
    ‘That wasn’t what I asked,’ Somersby interrupted.
    ‘Perhaps I’d better explain,’ he said, looking round. ‘I’ve had a report of severe psychosis with this drug.’
    ‘May I enquire from where?’ Leo asked, suddenly alert.
    ‘A colleague in America. He’s observed depression, delusions and paranoia in a number of his patients.’
    ‘Depression can’t be uncommon in leukaemia patients, surely?’
    ‘This was clinical, as were the other symptoms.’
    ‘I assume this was in combination with Prednisolone?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘A drug that’s known to have neurological effects.’
    ‘Indeed, but not to this extent.’
    There was a short pause, then Connie said, ‘Can you check this out from your end, Leo?’
    ‘I’d be glad to. It would help if I could have the name of your source, Dr Somersby…’
    Somersby shook his head. That’s confidential, Mr Farleigh. But do check what I’ve said with your American colleagues. I’d be most interested in their reply. Meanwhile I’ll have another talk with my colleague… and perhaps we could meet again in a couple of weeks?’
    Ian looked as though he was about to say something, but a look from Connie stopped him.
    Leo said, ‘Well, thank you for your time, Dr Somersby. I’ll come back to you when I know more.’ A perceptible tightness in his voice betrayed the fact that he’d been expecting more from the meeting.
    After he’d gone, Connie said, ‘Would you tell us who your source is, John?’
    ‘He specifically asked me not to, so I think I’d better respect that. Sorry.’
    Ian said, ‘How much credence do you give it, John? I mean, Leo has a point about leukaemics tending to be depressed.’
    ‘Enough credence to make me want to know more before using it here.’
    ‘OK, John, I accept that, but ninety-five per cent… it’s a breakthrough… I think most of our patients would jump at it, depression or no.’
    ‘I take it you hadn’t heard about these side-effects?’
    ‘Of course not.’
    Somersby nodded. ‘Then I wonder whether Mr Farleigh has been a shade less than ingenuous with us.’
    ‘Oh, surely not—’ Connie began, but Somersby overrode her:
    ‘I think we’ll leave it there for now. I’ll have another talk with my colleague and we’ll see what Mr Farleigh comes up with. The other item I want to discuss,’ he continued, ‘is the laboratory…’ He explained how he’d become worried by the recent grumbles about the lab.
    ‘I think we’ve all been aware of it,’ said Ian, ‘but to be honest, I think it’s a fact of life, something we have to put up with.’
    ‘Can I say something?’ Mark asked tentatively.
    ‘Of course,’ Somersby said.
    ‘With all due respect to Dr Saunders, I think it’s worse than that. Some of the housemen and ward sisters have been telling me how unhelpful the lab’s become lately.’
    ‘Then why don’t they put in a complaint?’ Ian enquired, less than impressed by Mark’s due respect.
    ‘They say it’s never quite bad enough for that.’
    ‘Well, then—’
    ‘The fact is,’ Somersby interposed, ‘I asked Fraser to look into it discreetly. Perhaps you’d like to share your observations with us, Fraser.’
    Fraser repeated what he’d told Somersby earlier. There was a slight pause when he finished, then Connie said, ‘I’m sorry to sound cynical, but couldn’t Sean’s comments be down to the fact that he wants Terry’s job?’
    ‘That wasn’t my impression,’ Fraser said.
    Connie shrugged. ‘All right, I accept that Terry can be difficult, but I tend to agree with Ian – that he’s a cross we have to bear. For the moment, anyway.’
    ‘But it isn’t us that does the bearing, Connie,’ said Somersby. ‘It’s the GPs, the staff on the wards and in the lab and, ultimately, the patients.’
    They talked round it,