David Vetter

David Joseph Vetter III (September 21, 1971–February 22, 1984) was a boy from Houston, Texas who suffered from a rare genetic disease now known as Severe Combined Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Forced to live in a sterile environment, he became popular with the media as the boy in the plastic bubble.

Psychological aspects

David's refusal of the suit could be interpreted as an Emotional Design error. Although the suit was fully functional, no study had been made of its psychological impact, and David was unable to create an emotional link to the suit. For months it stayed attached to David's environment, but he hardly ever used it.

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Although the press created an image of a healthy young boy trapped in a bubble, David was psychologically unstable, primarily due to the lack of any human contact. Normally presenting a painstakingly polite facade, he was increasingly angry and depressed about his condition and would act out. On one occasion, when one of his doctors had a heart attack, he spread his own excrement all over the bubble.

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