Chapter 86 - 71: Leave Request

Chapter 86: Chapter 71: Leave RequestCheng Xiaohong distributed the photocopied documents to everyone. Yu Mo glanced at them. The patient’s family had set forth several conditions, the main two being: firstly, the attending doctor should acknowledge the misdiagnosis and apologize to the patient in person.

Yu Mo felt a headache coming on. She couldn’t agree to this one. She admitted that there was a diagnostic error, but there were reasons. If it weren’t for the misleading ultrasound report, she wouldn’t have made such a judgment, and the relevant laboratory tests did not support the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy.

At most, it was a missed diagnosis. She had also suggested that the patient should rest more, pay attention, and return for a follow-up if there were any abnormalities.

Another condition was that Changxing Hospital should refund all medical expenses and cover all costs incurred by the emergency surgery at the Women’s and Children’s Health Care Hospital, as well as pay for nutritional and lost work expenses. This was not excessive, as there were legal precedents for nutritional and lost work expenses. However, the demand for emotional damages was quite high, with the patient’s party asking for three million.

Yan Huaiyi took a sip of tea and said, "Let’s all discuss our opinions after reading. Zhao Xiaohui is a host on Dongzhou TV Station, quite well-known in the city, a public figure. If this matter is exposed, it will cause a significant social reaction. Our reputation at Changxing can’t withstand repeated hits like this."

Wang Zhaogang noticed that the patient’s conditions did not mention their department, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He knew very well that they could not escape all responsibility in this matter. Before the 21st century, the income gap between clinical and auxiliary departments was not so large, and their auxiliary department seldom got involved in medical disputes.

But since the reform of the internal distribution system in the 21st century, the income of clinical doctors has risen steadily, while their auxiliary department stagnated. The income imbalance quickly reflected as a status imbalance. This could be tolerated since clinical work is the core value for hospitals.

Strangely, auxiliary departments now face increasing numbers of medical disputes. Some of these are indeed due to their own reasons, but another part is dragged by clinical doctors in disputes with patients.

Wang Zhaogang’s attitude represents the common mindset of today’s auxiliary department doctors: Why should we bear the same responsibility when your income is so high, and ours is so low?

Seeing that no one was volunteering to speak, Yan Huaiyi had to call on someone to speak.

The first to be called was the involved party, Yu Mo. Yu Mo first educated everyone on the basics of ectopic pregnancy.

A pathological pregnancy process where the fertilized egg implants and develops outside the uterine cavity, also known as ectopic pregnancy. Tubal pregnancy is the most common form. The cause is often due to inflammation of the fallopian tube or the surrounding area, leading to poor tubal patency, inhibiting the normal passage of the fertilized egg, causing it to remain, implant, and develop in the fallopian tube, which may lead to miscarriage or rupture. Before miscarriage or rupture, there are often no obvious symptoms, though there may be missed periods, abdominal pain, and slight bleeding.

The main auxiliary examinations are ultrasound and blood HCG. When the patient came to see her, these two examinations did not indicate the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy. She based her judgment on the patient’s clinical manifestations and auxiliary examinations. Yu Mo did not admit to misdiagnosis; this incident is, at most, a missed diagnosis.

She found the patient’s demand for three million in compensation utterly unreasonable. The patient’s current condition was not directly caused by her. Whether or not she came to Changxing for treatment didn’t change the fact of her ectopic pregnancy.

Yan Huaiyi nodded. Actually, everyone involved in the discussion thought the compensation amount was unreasonable. The patient’s ectopic pregnancy was not caused by the hospital; the hospital just failed to provide the correct diagnosis promptly. Googlᴇ search novel_fіre.net

Yu Mo said, "I dare say, even if she hadn’t come to Changxing, any hospital in our city would have diagnosed her as having early intrauterine pregnancy based on these clinical symptoms and auxiliary examinations."

Wang Zhaogang frowned, detecting that Yu Mo was shifting the responsibility onto them: "Director Yu, I do not agree with what you said. Why was ectopic pregnancy detected at the Women’s and Children’s Health Care Hospital?"

"That’s because she had an acute abdominal crisis at the time!" Yu Mo was clearly getting anxious.

"Yu Mo isn’t wrong. This ultrasound report indeed shows early intrauterine pregnancy," Yan Huaiyi said after reviewing the medical records multiple times.

Wang Zhaogang said, "Since I am here for the discussion today, I’ll say a few words. Director Yu keeps emphasizing that the ultrasound report misled her, saying it was the basis for her wrong judgment. Everyone can look closely at this report; the conclusion given by the doctor is early intrauterine pregnancy ultrasonographic appearance. Does everyone know what ultrasonographic appearance means?"

Wang Zhaogang looked around. Nobody spoke. Xu Chunliang didn’t understand the ultrasound specialty, but he could understand people. In the face of responsibility, Yu Mo and Wang Zhaogang began to shift blame, both trying hard to clear themselves.

Wang Zhaogang pointed to the bottom of the report: "Please pay attention to the small line of text at the bottom, ’This report is for clinical reference only.’"

Yu Mo said, "Director Wang, that’s meaningless. Are you saying that no matter what happens in the clinic, it has nothing to do with you and you won’t bear any responsibility?"

"That’s not what I mean. I’m just addressing the matter at hand."

"Alright, I’ll address the matter at hand too. May I ask Director Wang, on what basis did your ultrasound doctor conclude that there was early intrauterine pregnancy imaging? Was there a clear observation of the yolk sac? It’s not enough to say it’s just an auxiliary department to absolve oneself. Every report from you is extremely important to our clinical diagnosis. It’s not okay to just say it’s for clinical reference to push all responsibility onto us."

"Yu Mo, clarify what you mean. Who is shirking responsibility?"

Yu Mo did not budge: "I’m not ignorant of ultrasound. Your ultrasound reports are increasingly ambiguous. To avoid risk, you never give clear conclusions. Every report is sent out with vague descriptions."

"If you understood ultrasound, you wouldn’t say such things! Do you know what diagnostic imaging is? If we gave accurate judgments in every report, that would be unscientific and irresponsible. If we could make definite diagnoses, what would we need you doctors for?"

Seeing the intense dispute, Yan Huaiyi had to intervene, placing his teacup heavily on the table with a thud: "What kind of conduct is this!"

Yu Mo and Wang Zhaogang stopped arguing simultaneously.

Yan Huaiyi glanced at both of them, nodded, and said, "Now is not the time to discuss who should bear how much responsibility but how to respond to the patient’s demands. I’ll ask you one thing: Do you think you did anything wrong in the case of Zhao Xiaohui? If not, I can immediately reject the conditions she proposed."

Yu Mo and Wang Zhaogang exchanged a glance. Neither dared to say they had no errors or should bear no responsibility in this matter.

"Your silence shows that you both understand there is responsibility in this matter. Since there is responsibility, Changxing should compensate the patient accordingly, but this three million..." Yan Huaiyi glanced at Xu Chunliang, who hadn’t spoken yet: "Xiaoxu, isn’t that a bit too high?"

Xu Chunliang chuckled: "We’ve seen even more outrageous demands."

Medical compensation negotiations are akin to business deals. Patients ask for the sky; hospitals offer peanuts. Both sides make concessions in the bargaining process to reach a final agreeable amount.

Huang Lide saw this as an opportunity to make a mark, saying passionately: "Three million is way too outrageous. How much does one get compensated for a death anyway, and her ectopic pregnancy isn’t even caused by us."

Xu Chunliang rolled his eyes, saying nothing. This idiot loves to flaunt his presence. Although the two newcomers aren’t great, Yang Zhen Gang became visibly more restrained after being set straight by him. In comparison, Huang Lide is even more unpleasant.

Yan Huaiyi said: "Director Huang, I think you should take charge of this matter. Try to negotiate an amount acceptable to everyone with the patient."

Huang Lide nodded, feeling gratified by the title of Director Huang. Although Yan Huaiyi’s position in the hospital is currently awkward, he is, after all, a deputy dean.

Yan Huaiyi continued, "Zhao Xiaohui is still hospitalized at the Women’s and Children’s Health Care Hospital. I think our hospital should show some attitude soon as well. Xiaocheng, you represent the hospital to visit her and, at the same time, probe her personal intentions."

"Understood, Dean Yan."

Yan Huaiyi didn’t assign any specific task to Xu Chunliang because he sensed Xu’s indifference regarding this matter. Even he himself couldn’t figure out what strategy Zhao Feiyang was using. Though publicly declaring Xu Chunliang to lead medical services, the organization department hasn’t formalized it.

Currently, the medical affairs department has added two new members. Although Huang Lide and Yang Zhen Gang don’t have a good reputation, they have much more experience than Xu Chunliang.

Yan Huaiyi thinks that the position of the long-vacant director of the medical affairs department is most likely going to Huang Lide. Actually, he doesn’t care who becomes the director. Now, what he’s most concerned about is his own future.

After announcing the adjournment, Xu Chunliang found him and submitted an application. Next week, there is a short-term training course on new-age doctor-patient relationships in Nanjiang, the provincial capital, and Xu Chunliang wants to attend.

Yan Huaiyi has served as a deputy in Changxing for many years. Having worked in management for so long, he has developed a deeper understanding of human nature. Xu Chunliang is probably sulking.

In fact, such an external training doesn’t need his signature. The medical affairs department can handle it internally, but since there is no clear director assigned, it’s normal for Xu Chunliang to find his superior.

Yan Huaiyi did not create any obstacles and helped Xu Chunliang with the signature.