- http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/articles/2012/05/13/girl_named_grace_a_gift_to_family_science/
- http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2012/10/27/doctors-piece-together-rare-cases-fungal-meningitis-uncover-outbreak/55SIHvy58Pf8lCB0yFvpHJ/story.html
- http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2012/02/29/fourth-monkey-dies-harvard-medical-school-primate-research-center/xmsup4zb8VELrdRd1oTVfI/story.html?p1=Bcom_ArticleStub_LogIn?camp=aw&rico=1&zph=9avc
- http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/2012/06/14/researchers-put-selves-under-the-microscope-self-experiments/ow8YUsVW9UiWunkX2SSHZL/story.html?camp=aw&rico=1&zph=9avc
Provide names of other journalists involved.
Carolyn Y. Johnson
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
5/13/12, 10/28/12, 2/29/12, 6/14/12
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
Outbreak baffled doctors until they saw common cause is a narrative story that recounts how doctors pieced together baffling cases of meningitis, finally connecting the infections to a tainted drug produced by a Massachusetts compounding pharmacy. “Girl named Grace a gift to family, science” is a narrative story that follows one family’s journey to find the genetic cause of their children’s disabilities. Research by Boston doctors allows them to do prenatal testing of an unexpected pregnancy, and they have their fifth child, Grace. “Harvard vows changes after 4th monkey death” is one of a number of stories that examined ongoing problems at Harvard Medical School’s primate research facility, which was rocked by animal deaths and injuries. Continual stories about the problems at the primate facility led Harvard to be more transparent about the operations of the center. “Researchers put selves under the microscope in self-experiments” examined the growing ability of scientists and others to track their own bodies using new tools, providing information that could help understand their own health or ask broader research questions.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
Outbreak baffled doctors until they saw common cause utilized case reports from medical journals, public health advisories, and obituaries to identify the clinicians, patients, and regulators who were involved in the early meningitis cases. In “Harvard vows changes after 4th monkey death,” FOI requests were made to federal authorities, including the US Department of Agriculture and the National Institute of Health’s Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare. Most of those requests are still pending as those agencies’ internal investigations continue; thus it was important to follow tips and put pressure on Harvard Medical School to disclose problems as we continue to await a more final resolution.
Explain types of human sources used.
Outbreak baffled doctors until they saw common cause drew on several dozen interviews done over the course of one week, ranging from experts on fungal infection to people whose families have been affected by the crisis. “Harvard vows changes after 4th monkey death” drew on sources at Harvard Medical School as well as anonymous tips.
Results:
Harvard vows changes after 4th monkey death and other stories about the problems at the primate center have led the medical school to be more open about the secretive animal research facility. After the Globe continued to work on the story on followed tips, the Medical School admitted that it had been put on a probationary status by an association that accredits facilities that take care of laboratory animals.
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
No.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Think broadly about your beat. These stories all approach the health and science beat from a variety of angles.