Viatical

The insurance industry borrowed the Latin word viaticum -- meaning provisions for a journey -- and created financial products called <I>Viatical</I> settlements allowing the terminally ill to sell their life insurance. Investors who bought these policies realized a great return while helping the sick gain money for their final days. But the returns were not guaranteed -- if the dying lived longer than expected investors lost money.</p><p> <I>Viaticals</I> bet how long someone lives. The faster they die the better the rate of return. When millions are at stake it's a prescription for murder. </p><p>The protagonist of <I>Viatical</I> is a young doctor managing an experimental drug program promising to extend the lives of dying AIDS patients. When a terminal but stable patient with a large life insurance policy dies inexplicably and suddenly everyone involved in the patient's life is suspect. Was it a mercy killing or murder for money? </p><p> A beautiful viatical broker befriends the doctor. Seduced and charmed the doctor ignores conflicts of interest and finds himself in a precarious position when he discovers the beautiful woman's links to wealthy mob-connected investors. </p><p> As he sorts out where true allegiances lie the doctor's dangerous search for answers reveals more about himself than he knew as the suspenseful end of <I>Viatical</I> unfolds in the streets of Washington DC.