Chapter 133: Clinical Trials, Personal Stakes
Micah was in the middle of a conversation with Flora and Nora. His hands resting on his lap as he sat on the hospital chair. The soft lighting in the room cast a warm glow over the pale woman in the bed, whose eye flickered to the jade ring on her finger.
There was a knock at the door and a doctor entered the room. He was middle-aged, with tired eyes and a stethoscope draped loosely around his neck. He stepped closer to the bed.
"Ms Tilden," the doctor said in a calm, professional tone, "we have just received a new drug from La Riviere Pharmaceutical, I want to inform... it’s an option we can consider. But I should mention it’s still in clinical trials."
The room’s mood shifted. Micah’s posture straightened, and the relaxed air around him disappeared as his focus concentrated on the doctor’s words.
"New drug?" he asked, eyes narrowing slightly behind his glasses.
The doctor nodded. "Yes, it’s been cleared for trial use by the health and medical authorities for patients with severe autoimmune disorders. It’s free of charge for those who qualify under the hospital’s trial program. However," he paused, "as with all new treatments, we can’t fully predict the side effects."
Micah glanced at Flora, whose face remained unreadable, though her hand had moved to rest gently against the jade ring.
"What about stem cell transplantation?" Micah asked, his voice suddenly more assertive. Like someone who had made a life-changing decision. "Wouldn’t that have a higher chance of recovery than experimental medication?"
The doctor blinked, slightly taken aback by the question. He studied Micay for a moment. "That’s not quite a fair comparison. You are comparing apples and oranges," he explained. "This new drug is non-invasive. It’s taken orally and designed to reduce immune attacks on the nervous system."