PART 9: GRAVITY'S ETHICSThis isn't a hospital! It's an insane asylum! And it's your fault! Shaking her head lightly, Doctor Van Tintelen leaves the room and softly closes the door. Empathy streaming through her veins, she never gets used to the unpolished grief of a patient she has to tell of inevitable death, never. She thinks, “There should be pipes to drain the tears in every room, or at least rinsing basins for grief. What a job.” The crying is that (...) of the sisters Barrio. Miranda and Monica are twins who always refer to themselves as M&M. Though Monica cries the hardest, it is Miranda who was just told that her breast cancer has spread into her liver. No more treatment available.“Don't cry, Monica, I took the risk purposely. We both knew breast cancer runs in our family. You had the test, I didn't.”“And now you see the result, Miranda, you are going to die. We aren't even fifty yet. Damn.” The irony is that the clock in the room doesn't work, its pointers silent and stiff.“Do you really think you are better off? I've never completely understood why you had the preventive double mastectomy.”“I have never felt less of a woman. You know that.”“I know, but some men felt differently about it.”The remark hurts Monica almost physically, and Miranda apologises immediately. “Sorry, sweetheart, I shouldn't have said that. The sisters embrace for the hundredth time.”“Maybe I was too much of a coward,” Miranda says, resigned, “or too proud of my breasts.” For a second she lifts the big breasts sadly with her hands. Cynically: “After all, they were my trumps in eroland.”“A coward? You? How about me?” Monica seems to calm down somewhat. “I was too afraid of the continual fear …. (shrink)

Part 10: The very old man and the sea of tears‘There is no time to waste, then, is there?' ‘He needs to be treated.’‘But he is 79 years old.’Two doctors in conflict. As happens often. The subject of the conversation is Mr Tyson, admitted to the hospital because of an aneurysm in his abdomen. Sarah Walters said ‘treat’. ‘Nonsense, too old, too risky’ is the opinion of Dr Jones. The squabble continues.Sarah: ‘So what? Does old age exclude you from society? (...) Of course we have to treat him.’‘But the investment will only last for a few years, and think of the risks, he may die from the operation. He should go home and, well, live what there is to live.’She shakes her head, her hair giving her a red aura. ‘I think he ought to have the operation.’‘I think it would be best if he should accept that time is running out, that life is finite, the whole existential rigmarole, et cetera.’‘Quite presumptuous of you to think he has not accepted that. Why? Just because he is old and did not kill himself?’ Sarah is indignant. ‘If he had done just that, we would have lamented about how we do not take care of our elderly, that society doesn't care, and that certainly there is no right to die unless your situation is totally hopeless and you're in a lot of pain. It doesn't make sense; in public health one does everything to increase life expectancy. Countries are proudly comparing themselves on the life expectancy list: mine is longer than yours. We worry because people have these unhealthy lifestyles, they are obese, they smoke, they get no exercise and they live a couch potato life. And then, lo and behold, they do grow old, in fact, and we go: …. (shrink)

Part 12: The fall of the house of ethics‘Sometimes a cliché is the best way to make ones point’From: Whatever works.For some seconds Gordon is blinded by the lights the television crews direct at him. More than 20 cameras focus on him, and one journalist yells “there he is!” Even Gordon is not used to that much attention, but vanity is a speedy advisor. Within seconds he has clad himself in the aura of important person, and knowledgeable ethicist, even if (...) he has no idea what that many journalists expect from him at precisely this moment. Particularly when he has little time, preparing for the world conference on bioethics in Singapore. Then a wave of disappointment hits the gathered gossip-mongering press. The floodlights are turned off, microphones are lowered, the buzzing quiets down.“Guys, this is not Testosterone Tony.”This Tony, the athlete who participated in the Olympic Games in Beijing, at that moment leaves the hospital by a back door, far away from the paparazzi. The armoured car of his sponsor Nanosock disappears from sight softly humming and brings him to a private clinic where he will be pampered and detoxified. His career in sports is over, but his reputation can certainly sell sports socks with nanofibres against sweaty feet. The only price he has to pay is to admit he has sweaty feet, not true, but a small price to pay considering the alternatives. In front of the hospital the disappointed and somewhat offended Gordon tries to save his ego and asks the journalists:“Maybe I can be of help? Do you want an ethical analysis of Testosterone Tony and enhancing evolution? My name is Gordon Mc….” Nobody listens, nobody reacts.A day later. Nurses Jake and Gwen return from the medication round. Jake looks at the unlit room in the Nuttree …. (shrink)