Lives, real lives and statistics Posted
by Reggie at 01/29/07 12:19 PM
Sometimes we are so quick to cite statistics to prove a point, that we overlook the fact that each data point in a statistic has its own story to tell. A USA Today article about the latest victim of last fall's E. coli outbreak in spinach presented two such stories -- abeit quite briefly.
One life belonged to Betty Howard 83, who died last week from complications of an E. coli infection. Ms. Howard ate a turkey and spinach sandwich in September. She spend her last months in a rehab center.
June Dunning, 86 passed away on September 13th. The connection between her death and the outbreak was just confirmed last week. It was a statement by Ms. Dunning's son-in-law that impressed me. In response to the doctor's comment that E. coli typically comes from hamburger, Ms. Dunnings son-in-law said, " ...she doesn't eat hamburger, she loves vegetables."
I suppose It's also the irony of the risk being associated with what is otherwise such a healthy food choice.
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