Patient Number One: A True Story of How One CEO Took on Cancer and Big Business in the Fight of His Life

by David Fisher, Rick Murdock, David Fisher

Book Overview

Cancer is a terrorist, driving us mad with feelings of hopelessness and despair. One man, faced with lymphatic cancer and a poor prognosis, had the unique opportunity to influence not just the course... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0609603914
• ISBN13: 9780609603918
• Release Date: May 2000
• Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY)
• Length: 308 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

dramatic, compelling read...

Overall, PATIENT NUMBER ONE is a compelling, dramatic true story that is fast-paced and socially relevant. Though story's most intense moments are played out over laboratory beakers and in the pages of patent infringement law-it's a fascinating read. The subject matter is on par with films like THE INSIDER, bringing to light some very ugly but very timely truths about big business and our legal system.The premise-- that a CEO whose life was saved by the very technology his company invented, must battle big business to save that same company- is a true David vs. Goliath story, but one with a bittersweet ending. The people in the story are very compelling, mostly because of the hardships they face and overcome, rather than because of their uniqueness or likability. For example, the protagonist Richard is a rather bland corporate executive, and one who was lucky enough to be in exactly the right place when cancer struck. I empathize with him only because of the complete unfair tactics that are waged against him, not because I necessarily identify with a CEO of a tech firm. The most interesting characters are the scientists at CellPro in charge of saving their boss' life. This task and its pressures are the most riveting aspects of the book, and make for a brilliant read.

Ray of Hope

I have a Friend who just went through this process at John Hopkins. The results at this time are excellent and the procedures are almost exactly what the Author went through. I would recommend this book as a tool for all Patients that are diagnosed with this form of Cancer as a Ray of Hope for their peace of mind. The only downside is the exposing of how our Judicial System treats the Treatment of a serious illness as another point of Law. They should be ashamed and the Judge should be also for overturning a Jury verdict. They wonder why people have no respect for the Law and Jury Trials.

Momma, don't let your babies grow up and become lawyers!

This was a riveting story - - read it! You will be uplifted most of the time, and outraged by the final conclusion. Many heros emerge in the telling of this heart-pounding story - - from Murdock the patient to the scientists working in the laboratory to the clinicians offering new hope to cancer victims. Two noteworthy anti-heroes also emerge, U. S. District Court Judge Roderick McKelvie and plaintiffs' attorney Donald R. Ware of Foley, Hoag & Eliot, Boston, MA, whose use of arcane points of law ensured cancer victims would be denied potential life saving technology. These two should enter into a suicide pact to honor the patients who died as a result of their efforts. Interestingly, Mr. Ware's firm represented big business in the book "A Civil Action", another legal saga in which cancer victims were denied.

An tragic encounter of big business and human life

A trully remarkable, and extremely ironic story that keeps the reader entranced, and at times outraged with our own legal system. A much more inticing story than that of "A Civil Action" or "The Insider", given the authors own fight for survival. Anyone will have a hard time putting it down!

Emotional Encounter

Even the strong hearter should be ready for an emotional tug when reading this book. the incredible story of the CEO, Rick Murdock, shows that no one can escape cancer but we can defeat it. At first I thought this would be a book that was basically scientific and confusing but I as pleasantly surprised. It is a fast and wonderful read!