Charles Henderson

Research - ALHE 4060

Summer 2008
Lorenzo's Oil Quiz

1. What was the primary disease in this movie and whom did it affect?

           The primary disease in this movie is ALD (Adrenoleukodystrophy), it effects only males usually between the ages of 5-10 (i.e. Lorenzo Odone).

2. How would you classify the disease' impact on the patients functional status: mild, moderate or severe, and why?

            I would classify the diseases impact on Lorenzo as severe simply because within 5 months he was no longer able to function on his own, he became dependent on the care of his family and nurses.

3. In your opinion, how did the research doctors regard Lorenzo's parents?

            I believe that the research doctors viewed Lorenzo’s parents as overly optimistic and tried to get them to see that in their eyes Lorenzo was going to be a learning tool because “research takes time”.

4. "The roles of the researchers were juxtaposed or changed in this movie." Explain why this is true.

            I think that the researcher’s role was to explore all avenues and over time develop a solid foundation to propose to the scientific community, the Adones did not have that time to waste so decided to educate themselves. They in a sense became the researchers and through their determination and breakthroughs coerced others to step up and put forth initiative.  

5. Dad had a breakthrough at the library - explain the paperclip analogy/model.

            Lorenzo’s dad studied day and night until he was able to understand why the body would make more of the c24 and c26 fatty acid chains when the input of those was lowered and then understanding that the body compensates for that decline he learned how to stop it-by competitive inhibition. It was through the paperclip analogy/model that Augusto was able to figure out that both chains use the same enzyme.

6. Dad was concerned when Lorenzo's friend came from Africa to live with the Adone's and care for Lorenzo. What was Dad's primary concern?

            I believe that Augusto was afraid that Michaela was "uprooting" Omouri from his way of life, he was concerned that he did not know how to speak english and that he was an African/Muslim who would be moving to Washington D.C. where they lived, a place Augusto calls racist. 

7. Who was the first human subject to consume the oil and how was it dosed and administered through what portal (ingested, injected, absorbed, inhaled, or other)?

            The first human subject to ingest the oil was Michaela Odone’s sister Deirdre Murphy. She ate it as dressing on a salad (ingested). The first time Lorenzo was given the oil it was injected through an N-G tube.

8. What is the role of money in this research product? Who paid for most of the early groundbreaking research?

            The role of money is the same here as in most every other situation in life; without it not much gets done.  The primary reason this oil is here today is because of the time, effort and money put forth by the Adone family (two mortgages’ and their savings depleted along with their efforts in fund raising).

9. The critical mass theory suggests that multiple researchers conclusively find (or frequently stumble upon) an answer to a scientific inquiry. Were the researchers on a single path to finding a cure for this disease?

            No, the researchers were not on a single path to curing this disease, as one researcher stated that it is a very competitive business. Perhaps if researchers worked together on all unknown problems the world would be a better place at least sooner than later.

10. Consider ethics for a moment. Does this movie represent a appropriate ethical model for research. Defend your answer.

            I think that researchers cannot listen to every parent or patient and simply run with an idea. On their side one has to understand that certain ways of doing research takes time. Using Lorenzo as a study aide may seem unethical yet I am sure that that is how we learned (and in some instances defeated) other diseases. As for the “ethical model” I would say no because there were doctors going “off the record” to help and the ground work for this oil had to be bootlegged into the country. The one fact that disturbs me the most is the fact that this oil has been proven to better the lives of so many and when I went to the web site it stated that it is still to this day not been approved by the FDA. Makes one wonder what is out there waiting to be “approved”.