Extraordinary Measures Film Analysis

Extraordinary Measures Film Analysis The film Extraordinary Measures is based on a true story which follows the journey of a father who is determined to save his young childrens lives. John and Aileen Crowley have three kids, two of which who have a rare genetic disorder called pompe disease. Pompe disease is a rare inherited disorder in which the glycogen in the body is not broken down, and thus the glycogen builds up within the bodys cells. This can cause muscular dystrophy and eventually lead to enlarged organs. The children born with this disease often times live a very short life of about ten years and die because their organs can no longer function with this glycogen build up. In the film, John Crowley has two children with pompe, but the story revolves around his eight-year-old daughter Megan. Megan just recently turned eight years old when she fell ill and was rushed to the hospital because to her respiratory system was starting to fail. While in the hospital, the doctor spoke to John and Aileen about Megans conditions. When explaining that her chances of survival were slim, he used the phrase think of it as a blessing when talking about Megans impending death. While the doctor was trying to help the Crowleys with this situation, the Crowleys obviously didnt want to think of their daughters passing away as a blessing. Though Megan survived, John didnt want to sit around and watch as his children were slowly dying in front of him, so he took matters into his own hands and reached out to Dr. Robert Stonehill. Dr. Stonehill was a scientist who was researching pompe disease and the enzyme that breaks down the glycogen in the body, which is missing in those d iagnosed with the disease. During their meeting, Dr. Stonehill explained to John that the university wasnt providing enough funding to allow him to further test his theory about the missing enzyme. When he told John that he needed at least half a million dollars, John and Aileen decided to create a pompe disease foundation to help raise the money to create the treatment. As John worked as an advertising executive, Dr. Stonehill saw that as an opportunity to work with John to create their own biotech company to research the enzyme. The only issue with this was they needed a lot more funding then the foundation was able to raise. Though John tried to get Dr. Stonehill to meet with investors, he was very uncooperative. Though the two of them often disagreed with one another, the one thing they agreed on was that it was important to find a treatment for the disease, thus allowing them to eventually come to terms and sign a business deal. Months into research on the enzyme, John realizes that the investors were unhappy with the slow progress of the study. Dr. Stonehill and John had promised that they would bring the enzyme into clinical trials in a year, but they werent making enough head way to do so. This lead to another disagreement between John and Dr. Stonehill, resulting in them selling their company to the competition. Dr. Stonehill, being the stubborn man he is, angered and annoyed many people in the company, leading to John going behind his back to make the competitors happy. A group of researchers, excluding Dr. Stonehill, went on to further enhance the enzyme. Eventually, the drug was approved to go into clinical trials, but the scientists agreed that they would use it on infants. As Johns children werent infants, they wouldnt be treated with the enzyme, which was John was working towards the whole time. This lead to John doing some unethical things, such as breaking into the lab and trying to steal the enz yme himself to give it to his children. Luckily, Dr. Stonehill was able to get John out of trouble, but there was still the issue that John worked for the company and using his children in clinical trials would be a conflict of interest. The movie concluded with John getting fired from his job, allowing them to use his two children in a sibling study. The film ended with his children laughing in their hospitals beds, showing what is called a sugar high, indicating that the enzyme was indeed working and breaking down the glycogen. In the beginning of the movie, it seemed to relate with the topic of the patient-professional relationship that was discussed in an earlier lecture in this course. When the Crowleys had a health scare with their daughter Megan, it seemed as if they didnt have a good relationship with the doctor. I understand that the doctor was trying to be professional and make sure not to give the family a false hope, but I believe that there could have been a different way to go about telling a family that their daughters chances of survival were slim. The doctor had used the phrase think of [Megans passing away] as a blessing. Personally, I feel as if using that phrase came off as a little insensitive. There is no easy way to tell parents that their childs chances of surviving were low. Also with the case of pompe disease, the family must need to visit various doctors all the time, so Im not sure if they have enough time to have a good relationship with the many doctors that they visit. Even so, when dealing with a disease as serious as pompe, I do believe that it would benefit the family to have a doctor that they trusted and had a good relationship with. Another topic that was discussed in this course was death and dying. When faced with death, many people often turn to religion as a way to cope. Though death was heavily touched in this film, religion was only mentioned once or twice. The part that stood out to me in the film regarding religion was when Megan was in the hospital when her respiratory system was starting to fail. John had mentioned later in the film that when she was on her death bed, he has prayed to God that if it was her time, that she would die fast and peacefully. While Megan herself did not pray, her father had turned to religion as a coping mechanism. When Megan did not die, John used this as inspiration and a sign from God that he needed to be the one to help save his daughter. This just shows one of the many ways that people can turn to religion to make themselves feel better. Personally, I think the thing about the movie that related most to this course is the ethics that are involved in this movie. It seems as a huge dilemma in this movie was between John and the scientists differing points of view. John was very passionate about finding a treatment for pompe disease because he was closely linked to the disease through his children who were affected by it. He was desperate to save his childrens lives. In the movie, it seem that his desperation got the best of him and he would have done anything to save his children such as stealing the enzyme from the lab. Though he didnt end up stealing the enzyme, he was willing to do anything to help his children. I know that if I was a parent, I would probably do anything myself to help my children live longer. Though the love he had for his children was strong, that still doesnt make what he was about to do right. When it came to the scientists, they were very conservative with what they did. They followed the rules very seriously. Dr. Stonehill on the other hand did not. He was also willing to do anything to help these children. When John brought in the families who were affected by pompe disease, one of the scientists was upset. He explained to John that science was not a field that should get mixed up in emotions. If the scientist got emotional, they were willing to do anything to save those childrens lives, even changing the results to show that the drug worked. While I do agree that its important the scientist is truthful about the results, I also believe that being emotionally connected to a project could benefit the scientist in a way. I see nothing wrong with a scientist being motivated by their emotions to work on a project, as long as the scientist is truthful in their results. They need to remember that their job is to help people, and if they skip steps or lie about results, that c ould ultimately hurt more people in the long run. The film Extraordinary Measures touched many of the topics that were mentioned in this course thus far. It showed examples on how it is very important to have a medical team that you have a good relationship with and trust. In hard times, such as having a close call with losing a child, I believe that it is extremely important to have a good support system. In that support system, I think that its also important to be able to have a doctor that you trust fully. You want to know that your child or loved one is not only in the hands of someone that knows what they are doing, but someone who cares about them as a patient.ÂÂ   It showed that many families, if not the patients themselves, turn to religion as a coping mechanism during hard times. I believe that it is very therapeutic to turn to religion as a coping mechanism in hard times. Like in Johns case, he used religion as an inspiration and push into looking for a cure for his children. Personally, I am a firm believer that eve rything happens for a reason. This way of thinking can be hard if something terrible happens, but in the end I do think it helps with looking at the silver lining. The film also showed that it may be hard to be passionate about something but also to follow the rules and not let your emotions get in the way of the purpose of the study. Passion is a very good motivator for many things and people. It can help you get through the days that you feel you are too tired to do something. It can help you push through the bad days when it feels as nothing is going your way. Its a fantastic motivator if you use it the correct way. You need to make sure that your passion doesnt cloud your judgement and get in the way of ethical solutions. Overall, I think the movie showed the importance of teamwork in the medical field. While it is important to be passionate about what you do, it is also important to be reasonable. John and Dr. Stonehill showed passion in different ways. John showed passion in finding a cure as his childrens lives were depending on the cure and he was running out of time with them. Dr. Stonehill showed passion in his research and finding a treatment to help those who had the disease. The scientists in the movie were the more responsible, logical characters. The scientists, while wanting to find a treatment, also knew the importance of following policy. They didnt want to pursue a study if there were not going to be any results. They knew the FDA regulations, and wanted to make sure that they were followed. As much as they wanted to help find a treatment, they wanted to make sure they were not overly optimistic and there was a successful outcome in the end. This movie is a direct indicator that humanit ies are important in not only the medical field, but any science field, and as long as people work together and combine their knowledge and the humanities, they can make a difference in the medical field.

Stories Told Halfway :: Personal Narrative Sleeping Papers

Stories Told Halfway When I was sick I slept all day, in the shifting patch of sun on my bed. I woke up after fourteen hours and I saw that I had taken Sleep into me. And I thought, I understand why they called Sleep a god, why they gave him a face. If you sleep long enough, you let him in. You can feel the way he lifts your limbs and lets them fall again till they learn to hang, loosely, just so. You can feel the way his hands push down on the back of your neck, gently, and the lazy halo he brushes over the crown of your head with his fingers. You can understand why today he likes Sun, who paints a quiet coat of warmth onto your faded yellow sheets. You can feel him blink and stretch and curl up softly and let Sun paint him golden. And you can also understand why mostly he likes Night, who comes more quietly, dressed in cool gowns, trailing her nets and nets of stars to trap him in. You can see through his eyes, when you have just woken. Things come into your understanding slowly and you are content t o know them only halfway. You do not struggle for meaning. You can see how he blurs shapes into roundness. You can see how he breathes out quiet through you where you go, and you know he is there in the sleepy tilt of your head. And the people around you, when you have just woken, will see Sleep smiling in the lazy lines of your walk. This is Nick's favorite dream: He was being chased. He was all fear. He ran until he started to run on four legs. He felt the spring and the power and the motion that is a wolf running. It was daytime, morning. He followed a rough trail that wove through the woods. He ran and it was not strange. He did not even stop to think, I am a wolf. Only he was. The trail turned cleaner, shafts of new white light urging him on to the east. He was not feeling afraid anymore. He hadn't for a long time. The chase fell away and he was just running, all motion and speed. He came to a place deep in the forest where the trees were narrow and dense.

Sex Workers: the Legalization of Prostitution

Iya Clarke Mrs. Peacock 4 December Sex Workers: The Legalization of Prostitution Prostitution, one of the most controversial jobs created, is often revered as one of the lowest jobs of the career totem pole. Sex workers are counted out and their voices are rarely, if ever, listened to, but no longer should sex workers be ignored. They are people too and have a lot to offer the America. Other countries have legalized prostitution and it has simply become a part of the culture, no longer looked down upon. Perhaps, the U. S. hould revisit the job of sex working, and if stigmas and judgments about the field were removed and prostitution was viewed with unbiased eyes, then the positive aspects of legalization could be considered. Sex is simply another commodity that can be bought and sold, just like anything else that is traded, and should be treated as such. With certain restrictions, if brothels were designated for certain places, had their own district outside the major cities, it coul d help uplift a forgotten community. With certain regulations and laws put in place, not only sex workers, but society as large can benefit. Sex workers are not hurting anyone and should be allowed to do what they love. the Declaration of Independence it clearly states that, â€Å"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. † So if sex workers are happy doing their job then who is the government to try and outlaw it? Prostituting is their way of gaining life, liberty and it is their personal way of pursing happiness. If sex workers are doing what they love, not hurting anyone, and prostituting in a safe manner then the only ethical thing to do is to legalize it. But the only reason this will not happen is because of the negative stigma attached to it. Legalizing prostitution would normalize it and the mystery about sex workers would quickly dissipate. But if it became just a regular job then a lot of the taboo allure about it would be lost. After a certain amount of time most Americans would become indifferent to the issue, similar to how the Dutch now view prostitution. According to Melanie Abrams of History Today, â€Å"research has shown that 74 per cent of the Dutch population regards prostitution as an acceptable job and prostitution has been legal in the Netherlands since 2000. † If prostitution is normalized than stereotypes and judgments will decrease about the workers, making them feel less ostracized from society and help to create a richer place with diverse groups of people. The United States claims to be an accepting place, a â€Å"melting pot,† of all kinds of people with different ideas and lifestyles, so why sex workers be put on the outskirts of society? So many of sex workers are taken advantage of and abused physically, but if prostitution was legalized than not as many woman would be injured. Everyday sex workers are beaten and abused, and the intuition who is supposed to be stopping this type of behavior, the police, is often a main perpetrator of it. The police use the power in their job title to coerce the women into illicit sexual acts so that they aren’t arrested and taken to jail. Sex workers live in fear of the possible threats from their customers and threats from the governing force, the police. Legalizing prostitution would help to eliminate abuse from both of these groups because prostitution would be seen as a legitimate job. Just as other jobs have laws to ensure the protection of them, sex workers would be granted the same rights. The workers would be able to stand up for themselves and not be afraid to call out the people who take advantage of them. Also, the countless tax dollars spent on picking up sex workers and holding them in jail could be used for something more useful. Because honestly, if a sex worker really enjoys their job, they are just going to go back out on the streets. This will only encourage a viscous cycle, that will never ever stop, and simply waste money that needs to be used in something more important. The spread of STDs, if prostitution was legalized, would decrease, due to mandatory testing. One of the greatest fears about sex workers is that the spread a large number of diseases to their customers because they do not have to use protection. But if prostitution was legalized then a system could be set up to curb the spread of STDs and STIs. The workers would have to be checked periodically to insure the spread of diseases decreased, as opposed to workers who do not have to follow any rules, because they are participating in an illegal business. In parts of Australia, where prostitution is legal, sex workers â€Å"undergo regular examinations for STIs. If these tests are not done, the brothel will not permit the sex worker to work,† and in Queensland, Australia, â€Å"sex workers in brothels are required to wear a prophylactic during any type of sexual activity. As a result, Australian sex workers now have a very low incidence of STI’s. † With many jobs people have to go undergo certain requirements whether it is periodically drug testing, or getting a background check. Prostitute are going to do their job, legal or not, so imposing a way for it to be done in healthy manner, can only be for the better and help to curb the spread of unwanted STDs and STIs. If prostitutes became a legal then sex worker s could help the economy. Just as with any other job, prostitutes would become a part of the tax paying population. Rather than making all the money under the table, which is what they do now, sex workers could help the Unites States out of the economic downturn of the past few years. They could play a vital part in helping to alleviate the billions of debt that the United States is in imagine the millions of unpaid tax dollars that is being overlooked annually because prostitution is not considered a â€Å"real job. † Finally, the United States need to understand that prostitution is as a real of a job as any and rid themselves of the judgments that have been in the culture for years. Yes, some of the workers are coerced into selling themselves on the street, but there is also a percentage of the woman enjoy the work. Some women enjoy the thrill, or simply enjoy having sex. It is their body, so who is the government to tell them what to do with it; what not to do with it? If the government was able to see past these judgments then America would be a better place for it. The spread of unwanted STIs and STDs would lessen within this field, millions; possibly billions of dollars could be made by taxing the work. And the great melting pot, which is spoken so fondly of, would become even more diverse and accepting of people. In addition, there is no legal reason for it not to be legalized. Most of the reasons for why prostituting is illegal has to deal with morals. But if people do not like the idea of sex work, then they do not have to participate in it, but ultimately it is not their decision to make. If the sex workers are of the legal age, have made this decision on their own, without being forced or coerced, then they should be able to do what makes them happy. That’s all most people search for, the thing that makes them happy, so everyone should be able to experience that without being treated terribly and dealing with the constant oppression from the society from which they live in. Works Cited Abrams, Melanie. â€Å"City Of (Red) Lights. † History Today 59. 11 (2009): 6-7. Academic Search Complete. Web. 4 Dec. 2011. Sullivan, Barbara. â€Å"When (Some) Prostitution Is Legal: The Impact Of Law Reform On Sex Work In Australia. † Journal Of Law & Society 37. 1 (2010): 85-104. Sociological Collection. Web. 5 Dec. 2011.

What Is Register in Linguistics

In  linguistics, the register is defined as the  way a speaker uses language differently in different circumstances. Think about the words you choose, your tone of voice, even your body language. You probably behave very differently chatting with a friend than you would at a formal dinner party or during a job interview. These variations in formality,  also called stylistic variation, are known as registers in linguistics. They are determined by such factors as social occasion, context,  purpose, and audience. Registers are marked by a variety of specialized vocabulary and turns of phrases, colloquialisms and the use of jargon, and a difference in intonation and pace; in The Study of Language, linguist George Yule describes the function of jargon as helping to create and maintain connections among those who see themselves as insiders in some way and to exclude outsiders. Registers are used in all forms of communication, including written, spoken, and signed. Depending on grammar, syntax, and tone, the register may be extremely rigid or very intimate. You dont even need to use an actual word to communicate effectively. A huff of exasperation during a debate or a grin while signing hello speaks volumes. Types of Linguistic  Register Some linguists say there are just two types of register: formal and informal. This isnt incorrect, but it is an oversimplification. Instead, most who study language say there are five distinct registers. Frozen: This form is sometimes called the static register because it refers to historic language or communication that is intended to remain unchanged, like a constitution or prayer. Examples: The Bible, the United States Constitution, the Bhagavad Gita, Romeo and Juliet.Formal: Less rigid but still constrained, the formal register is used in professional, academic, or legal settings where communication is expected to be respectful, uninterrupted, and restrained. Slang is never used, and contractions are rare. Examples: a TED talk, a business presentation, the Encyclopaedia Brittanica, Grays Anatomy, by Henry Gray.Consultative: People use this register often in conversation when theyre speaking with someone who has specialized knowledge or who is offering advice. Tone is often respectful (use of courtesy titles) but may be more casual if the relationship is longstanding or friendly (a family doctor.) Slang is sometimes used, people may pause or interrupt one another. Examples: the lo cal TV news broadcast, an annual physical, a service provider like a plumber.Casual: This is the register people use when theyre with friends, close acquaintances and co-workers, and family. Its probably the one you think of when you consider how you talk with other people, often in a group setting. Use of slang, contractions, and vernacular grammar is all common, and people may also use expletives or off-color language in some settings. Examples: a birthday party, a backyard barbecue.Intimate: Linguists say this register is reserved for special occasions, usually between only two people and often in private. Intimate language may be something as simple as an inside joke between two college friends or a word whispered in a lovers ear. Additional Resources and Tips Knowing which register to use can be challenging for English students. Unlike Spanish and other languages, there is no special form of a pronoun expressly for use in formal situations. Culture adds another layer of complication, especially if youre not familiar with how people are expected to behave in certain situations. Teachers say there are two things you can do to improve your skills. Look for contextual clues such as vocabulary, use of examples, and illustrations. Listen for tone of voice. Is the speaker whispering or yelling? Are they using courtesy titles or addressing people by name? Look at how theyre standing and consider the words they choose. Sources Yule, George. The Study of Language. Cambridge University Press, 2014, Cambridge.Eaton, Sarah. Language Register and Why It Matters. Drsaraheaton.com. 22 May 2012.Lund University staff. Register Types.  .Lunduniversity.lu.se. 21 February 2011.Wolfram, Walt, and Natalie Schilling.  American English: Dialects and Variation, 3rd Edition.  Ã‚  John Wiley Sons, 2015.  Young, Jennifer. How Did That Register? Five Levels of Formality in Language. Altalang.com. 1 May 2012.