- http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/11/live-chat-cdc-answers-your-meningitis-questions.html
- http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/11/for-families-struggling-with-meningitis-deaths-something-lingers.html
- http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/11/meningitis-top-10-things-cdc-says-you-should-know.html
- http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/july-dec12/meningitis_11-14.html
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
Nov. 14, 2012
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
A broadcast story and accompanying online articles on the consequences of the fungal meningitis outbreaks in Fall 2012.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
We did extensive Internet searches for information on meningitis outbreaks caused by tainted medication from the New England Compounding Pharmacy. Through CDC data and research conducted by the Tennessee Department of Public Health, we found that state with the most number of cases. And by email and U.S. mail, we located one man whose life has been heavily affected by the contaminated drugs.
Explain types of human sources used.
After extensive research, we decided to focus on Wayne Reed, a 57-year-old ALS victim whose wife died from meningitis in October. She had not only been married to him for more than 30 years, she was also his primary caretaker. The story also included members of their local Christian church who have been providing 24-hour-care for Wayne since his wife died. Vanderbilt University provided a number of experts in this field whom we interviewed and made their research labs available to us to show where the first case of this type of meningitis was discovered. Additional interviews were conducted with officials at the Centers for Disease Control, officials in Massachusetts who were investigating the compounding pharmacy and several members of Congress considering legislation to place stronger regulatory control over these types of pharmacies. The FDA refused to cooperate with us in any way.
Results:
None
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.
Finding a gripping personal story to bring an issue like this home for the viewers is key, especially when key players (like the FDA) won’t cooperate.