A Strike of Conversion (5)
[Dr. Choi. Freed’s patient is in emergency! My breathing and pulse keep dropping!]
“I’ll be right there.”
Choi Ki-seok turned around and headed to the surgical intensive care unit.
I met Henri on the way, so I explained the situation and accelerated my steps.
My hands were sweaty and my lips were dry. The ominous feeling conveyed by my sixth sense was becoming stronger.
Drurr.
I entered the intensive care unit and stood next to Freed.
The patient monitoring device was emitting an ominous electronic sound. The electrocardiogram was dancing irregularly, and as the nurse called, his breathing and pulse were dropping vertically.
“Dr. Choi. What should I do?”
Amanda, the nurse who came first and was waiting, stamped her feet.
“First, one ampoule of epinephrine IV (intravenous infusion).”
“all right.”
While Amanda was away, Ki-Seok Choi switched the oxygen concentration to high concentration and started chest compressions.
puck! puck! puck!
Freed’s body heaved every time he applied pressure.
‘shit!’
As a result of looking through the eyes of Hippocrates, acute renal failure and cardiopulmonary arrest came to mind as diagnoses.
Yesterday, my condition seemed to have improved after receiving treatment from a circulatory and nephrologist, but it ended up getting worse again.
“Dr. Choi. IV injection is complete.”
“Please call the circulatory and nephrology staff. I can’t continue like this. Please add dopamine as an IV ampoule.”
“yes!”
Ki-Seok Choi continued chest compressions and looked at the patient monitoring device.
Even though treatment was in progress, Freed’s condition was still poor.
‘You can’t leave like this.’
I looked down at Freed and bit my lip without realizing it.
For his family who are praying for his safe return.
Even if it’s just to give a proud blow to the police who are trying to avoid accountability and Matthew who takes advantage of it.
Freed must live.
“What happened?”
“Do you even need CPR?”
The cardiologist and nephrologist who had been called stood next to Choi Ki-seok. In response, Amanda briefly summarized the situation so far.
“Ha… ha… teacher. Is there any way?”
Ki-seok Choi stared at the doctors, waiting for the next cycle of chest compressions.
“Actually, there is nothing the nephrology department can do. There is no point in surgery right now, and I have prescribed all the necessary medications.”
“The same goes for circulatory medicine. If ECMO treatment does not work…”
the two doctors answered, avoiding Choi Ki-seok’s gaze.
“Any method is fine. First, we have to save the patient. You both know how hard it is for Freed and the guardian.”
“….”
“Please.”
Choi Ki-seok began chest compressions again.
Although vasopressors were administered every minute and chest compressions were continued, Fried was gradually dying.
The electrocardiogram graph showed a pathetically weak curve.
“Okay. Let’s try dialysis again. I’ll also change the medication.”
“I will contact the thoracic surgery department and ask if surgery is possible.”
“thank you.”
Choi Ki-seok moved to the dialysis room with a nephrologist and bed in tow. And chest compressions were continued while dialysis was in progress.
My whole body was drenched in sweat and I was out of breath, but I didn’t care one bit.
If I could save Freed, I could do anything.
“Now let’s take turns.”
“It’s okay. I’ll continue.”
While I was talking to the nephrologist, the call phone rang. When I checked the number, it was a call from a circulatory specialist.
“I just requested a consultation with a thoracic surgeon. I looked at the chart there and they said surgery is impossible. There are no clear lesions that require surgery, so there is no point…” Choi Ki-seok lowered his head at the words of the cardiologist
.
It was somewhat expected.
For surgery to be possible, there must be a clear cause, such as a blockage in the heart blood vessel or bleeding. However, Freed’s cardiopulmonary function was declining somewhat unevenly.
In other words, surgery is not possible.
Although it was as expected, it was inevitable that the results were disappointing.
“I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do to help you, so let’s try a stronger drug instead. There’s a drug recommended by the professor.”
“yes.”
After hemodialysis was completed, Ki-Seok Choi returned to the intensive care unit with Freed. Although he continued to receive treatment according to the cardiologist’s prescriptions, Fried continued to worsen.
Bleep. Bleep.
The electrocardiogram graph stopped moving along with an ominous electronic sound.
‘Ah…’
Choi Ki-seok stopped chest compressions and stared at the monitor with a mesmerized face.
I lost all strength in my body.
I felt like my soul had escaped from my body.
It felt like this moment wasn’t real.
‘no. no.’
Choi Ki-seok shook his head and started chest compressions again.
“Amanda. Please continue administering the epinephrine and dopamine without stopping.”
“Dr. Choi. The patient is already….”
“Let’s try until the end. It’s too early to give up.”
CPR continued due to Choi Ki-seok’s insistence.
The staff and surrounding patients looked at the miserable sight with sad eyes.
How much time has passed?
“Ah…”
I couldn’t tell if it was sweat or tears, running down my cheeks.
Choi Ki-seok flopped down in his seat and stared at the patient monitoring device.
Freed didn’t have a faint pulse or even an ounce of breath.
As a result of examining with the eyes of Hippocrates, the condition appeared to be death. The consequences that he did not want to admit and did not want to accept weighed heavily on his body.
“Dr. Choi. Are you okay?”
Amanda came over and looked worried.
Choi Ki-seok stood up without answering and took a last look at Freed’s condition.
“…12:10 a.m….the patient died from cardiopulmonary arrest.”
I let out a few words and left the intensive care unit.
Jane spotted him and came over to him, grabbing him by the hem of his gown.
“Doctor Choi. Is my husband okay?”
“….”
“Why? Don’t you say anything? Yes? Please tell me it’s okay.”
“Your husband just passed away. I’m sorry for not being able to protect you.”
“That… that can’t be possible!”
“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.”
“Freed!”
Jane cried loudly and Choi Ki-seok quietly hugged her.
The tears I had been holding back burst out.
* * *
Two days later.
When the news of Fried’s death was broadcast on the media, the police launched a full-scale public opinion campaign.
An autopsy must be performed to determine the patient’s cause of death.
Jane denied this in an official statement.
They argued that conducting an autopsy when it was clear that the husband had died externally was an attempt to misrepresent the cause of death.
While the police and Jane’s claims clashed, various media outlets paid attention to Choi Ki-seok.
How will he write a death certificate?
The direction of the case depends on the death certificate.
* * *
Choi Ki-seok was leaning back on the sofa in the lounge, looking up at the ceiling.
After Freed passed away, my sense of reality faded.
No matter what I did, I couldn’t shake off the feeling of floating in space.
His colleagues comforted him, saying he did his best, but they all sounded like empty echoes.
Because that didn’t mean Freed came back from the dead.
slap!
After being dazed for a while, he lightly hit both cheeks with his hands.
‘Let’s come to our senses. now.’
Choi Ki-seok’s eyes slowly became brighter.
It’s important to mourn Fried, but that doesn’t mean we can neglect the patients we’re currently in charge of.
Especially if you don’t want to repeat the same pain.
Drurr.
While I was composing my thoughts, someone came into the break room.
It’s Matthew.
“Were you resting?”
“yes.”
“Let’s talk for a moment.”
Matthew sat across from him and crossed his legs.
It has finally come.
Choi Ki-seok came to his senses and stared at Matthew.
“I have nothing to say to the manager.”
“If you don’t have anything to say, just listen. It will all be a story that will become your blood and flesh.”
A faint smile appeared on Matthew’s lips.
“First of all, it is very unfortunate that the brain-dead patient died. I heard that you worked extremely hard for the patient.”
“….”
“By the way. Hmm… I heard that you are putting off writing the death certificate. Is that true?”
“Yes. I plan to go back to the medical office and write it down now.”
“Well, it was a big shock, so it’s only natural.”
Matthew continued speaking, observing his expression.
“How do you plan to determine the patient’s cause of death?”
“I’m sorry. I got a call…”
Choi Ki-seok picked up his cell phone and pretended to be talking on the phone calmly. And secretly activated an app.
In addition, I used my hands to manipulate a device that I had recently purchased and was already in operation.
This completes preparations for the battle against Matthew.
“I had a call to the ward so I spoke briefly. You asked for the patient’s cause of death just now, right?”
He put his cell phone down on the table and continued the topic.
“There is no need to worry about the patient’s cause of death. I am confident that it was caused by an external cause. When I first examined the patient in the emergency room, systemic shock, acute subdural hemorrhage, traumatic intraparenchymal hemorrhage, brain herniation, hydrocephalus, and diffuse brain damage were seen.”
“….”
“It is impossible for these many diagnoses to be caused by cerebral arteriovenous malformations.”
“Do you really think so?”
“What does that mean?”
“Diagnosing a patient involves the doctor’s subjective judgment. If you make up your mind, there’s nothing you can’t treat as a disease…” “Do you
want me to treat the cause of death as a disease?”
“Well, there is a way to do that. I don’t know if you know this, but before the patient fell into brain death, I suggested surgery to the patient’s guardian. Of course, the guardian refused the surgery.”
“….”
“That means that refusal of treatment and soldiering can be linked.”
Matthew paused before continuing.
“Now that the situation is at this point, shall I speak frankly? What do you want?”
“I want to get into thoracic surgery with the Hier system as soon as possible.”
“Then I will help you get promoted early. Instead, I would like you to treat the cause of death of Freed’s patient as a soldier.”
Matthew looked at Choi Ki-seok and smiled faintly.
It was visible at a glance that Choi Ki-seok was shaking.
The fact that he doesn’t refuse right away is the biggest proof.
“The patient died anyway. Even if you cry and scream and make a fuss, that fact doesn’t change.”
“….”
“Then wouldn’t it be right to take care of practical benefits?”
“How can I… trust you, Chief? I remember the last time I called you, you only said bad things…” “
That’s because you were on Lucas’ side. If you were on my side, the story would be different.”
Matthew nodded slightly.
In fact, he had no intention of supporting Choi Ki-seok’s early promotion.
The thought of this meek guy running on the road to victory makes me grind my teeth in my sleep.
But for now, all we can do is pretend to hold hands.
To ask about Freed’s case and his son’s theft case at the same time.
“I’m going to be the Head Chief of Neurosurgery soon and I’m going to take over the Parker and Mayo Clinic. There is enough power to look after you in the future. Don’t get embarrassed while helping Lucas, who is worthless.”
After Matthew finished speaking, a heavy silence filled the break room.
It was Choi Ki-seok who broke the long silence.
“If the manager promises an early promotion, I will think about this again. .”
“Yes, it’s a wise choice.”
“But there is a condition,”
Choi Ki-seok continued, his eyes shining.
