Interview Response

Megan's Interview Response

1.     Describe your feelings about or response to the interview?

       

       I felt as if our interviewee's (Dr. Mozer) very personal relationship with neuroblastoma enabled him to provide a lot of information for us. I feel as if most medical cases, especially dealing with cancer , are always unique to the individual. Therefore, after the interview I felt like I learned more about the disease from a unique personal stand point as well as received a first hand opinion of treatment options and research on the disease. It was also neat to hear about how he was still up to date on findings and an active advocate for the research on Neuroblastoma.

2.     What changes occurred for you as a result of you interview?

       I gained a different outlook on the role that a patient and/or his or her family should play in the medical process. Through Dr. Mozer's account of how he and his wife were the joining factor between all the different doctors and their son, I believe now that a patients participation in their own medical knowledge does and should play a large role in health care.

3.     Did anything about it disturb you?

       

       The only part of the interview that disturbed me was when we were talking about experiences with insurance companies and payment for medical services. Specifically, to hear that so many patients suffer because of insurance denial on claims and as a result do not receive potential life saving care was disturbing. It was interesting and saddening to hear a personal account of these dealings and the lengths gone to receive necessary and rightful payment of certain medical services.

4.     Describe the connections you found between the interview and your research/classwork?

       

       The main connection I found between the interview and my classwork was the foundations noted by Dr. Mozer that work to raise money specifically for Neuroblastoma research and our grid computing project. After having done research on grid computing and Neuroblastoma, it was neat to hear of other organizations working to raise money for research. This was especially important after reading in Dr. Mozer's Journal article "A Doctor's Worst Nightmare, My own Child has Cancer" that only about 0.3 percent of the National Cancer Institute's budget goes towards Neuroblastoma.


Cynthia's Interview Response

1.     Describe your feelings about or response to the interview?

      My initial response to the interview was one of admiration.  Just the fact that one day all seems well with your child and then in a matter of minutes a diagnosis like neuroblastoma is given to you; and, everything about your day and the days to come is lived in the present.  Actions, thoughts and moving forward all collide together with one common goal, curing your child.  Here a pediatrician was up against a life-altering diagnosis that was not to be given to a patient’s parents but, to him and his own wife about their child.  It was a heartfelt and an educational interview.  Probably more educational from a medical provider’s viewpoint, in that there is more to a diagnosis than an answer to symptoms and prognosis.  Medical personnel need to always be cognizant of the fact that they are treating a person, not a disease. 

2.      What changes occurred for you as a result of your interview?

      I think I am more aware of the financial hardships that are put on families with this type of diagnosis.  I know somehow I knew that financial strains were there, I guess I just thought more institutions and medical personnel were able to help out with that part of dealing with the disease.  With the tremendous amount of medical expenses these families encounter, it seems that there would be a system in place for helping out financially so that families did not need to lose all of their financial worth.  It is sad with the capabilities in medical care that we have available in the USA that people go without medical care because of the expense and/or dictation of what an insurance company will or will not pay.  

3.       Did anything about it disturb you?

Yes, to be truthful, the reflections on the insurance processes were depressing.  The actual ability of an insurance company to determine what treatment route a patient should follow is despicable.  Limiting drugs of choice, treatment protocols because of the trial phase it may be in, and where a patient can or cannot be treated is not a decision for insurance companies.  A doctor and informed team of medical personnel should be the ones to confer and decide on a treatment plan for these patients.

4.       Describe the connections you found between the interview and your research/class  work?

      Some connections I found between this interview and our research include the following:  1. Support for additional monoclonal antibody lines 2.  Support for more stem cell research 3.  The need for more trials to be funded and expand on the current research of those already in progress And 4.  The sharing of research among all researchers in an organized manner like grid-computing

Liz's Interview Response

1. Describe your feelings about or response to the interview.

      Dr. Mozer is a phenomenal source on the subject of neuroblastoma.  His personal account is moving and scientific knowledge is astounding.

      One thing that struck me was Dr. Mozer’s compassionate care.  Through the telling of his family’s story he attempts to remind other physicians (and pre-med students) that their scientific conclusions effect real people. 

2. What changes occurred for you as a result of your interview?

      I realized how important advocacy for those in need is.  Life changing diagnoses are just that and any support that you can provide to the patient and others close is extremely important.

3. Did anything about the interview disturb you?

      Yes! The large role that third parties (insurance companies) can play in healthcare is disturbing.  The amount of stress and set back they can induce to those in need is a lot larger than I realized. The limits they set require fighting for what’s right by both the health care provider and the family/patient.

4. Describe the connections you found between the interview and your research & classwork.

      Dr. Mozer and his recommended research articles focus a lot on immunology.  Jacob underwent mono colonial antibody therapy at the end of his treatments to help keep him in remission.  This relates to coursework in many of my biology courses.