Surgeons Episode 18 Recap
> Surgeons Recap
The baby's surgery was underway, with Zhuang Shu having already made arrangements for a neonatal ICU bed, anticipating the child could stay until a second surgery. He estimated the expenses would be between ¥70,000 and ¥80,000, which the family could likely afford. Lu Chenxi acknowledged Zhuang Shu's thorough preparation, to which he responded that he was confident she could convince the mother. Lu Chenxi teased him, calling him a "smooth talker."
Meanwhile, Liu Ling, recovering from her C-section, struggled out of her room, wanting to see her daughter, Yu Xi. Dr. Zhao, concerned for Liu Ling's health, gently insisted on pushing her in a wheelchair. Liu Ling revealed she wanted to see Yu Xi, who was in the General Surgery department. Despite Dr. Zhao's initial reluctance, Liu Ling pleaded to be allowed to just look from a distance.
Yu Xi was outside with her father, who promised to take her and her grandmother to Hong Kong Disneyland once she recovered. Yu Xi, however, confided to her father that she didn't want to go to Disneyland; she wanted to find her mommy. She whispered that she knew the person she saw a few days ago was her mother, despite everyone telling her otherwise, and she had only pretended to believe them to spare her grandmother worry.
Yu Xi's father comforted her, assuring her that her mommy still loved her. Dr. Zhao eventually urged Liu Ling to return to her room, citing her other work and the need for Liu Ling to rest and focus on her newborn son. Liu Ling insisted on staying a little longer, but Dr. Zhao gently but firmly pushed her back, emphasizing her responsibility for Liu Ling's well-being.
Once back in her room, Dr. Zhao tried to soothe Liu Ling, telling her not to overthink. Liu Ling, however, expressed her profound despair, feeling that everyone, including herself, looked down on her. She admitted to chasing wealth and neglecting her family, only for it to be a "wasted effort" in the end. She felt her past mistakes were now being cruelly repaid through her child's suffering.
Dr. Zhao tried to reassure her, but Liu Ling grew agitated, questioning why "liking money" was wrong and why retribution had to fall on her child. Overwhelmed, Liu Ling then quietly asked to use the doctors' private single-person bathroom, saying she wished to crouch longer for comfort. Dr. Zhao agreed to retrieve the key after tending to another patient. Inside the operating room, the baby's condition stabilized, and the surgery concluded successfully. Zhuang Shu praised the "perfect" outcome.
Emerging from the OR, Lu Chenxi told Zhuang Shu she intended to change her approach. When Zhuang Shu asked if she was "crazy from being busy," Lu Chenxi explained that she now understood the difference between them: she had focused solely on securing consent and saving the child, even blocking Liu Ling's door, without considering Liu Ling's future circumstances.
Zhuang Shu, conversely, had brought in a former patient to offer encouragement and had meticulously arranged for the baby's post-operative care in the NICU. He had been more thorough. Lu Chenxi expressed her gratitude, saying it was a "good thing there is you." A short while later, Dr. Zhao, having finished her tasks, grew concerned when Liu Ling remained in the bathroom, unresponsive to calls or knocks.
Fearing the worst, Dr. Zhao unlocked the door and discovered Liu Ling covered in blood, having committed suicide. Despite immediate resuscitation efforts by the OB Department, it was too late. Liu Ling left a note, revealing her profound despair. With no husband or job, and her financial hopes dashed, she felt incapable of caring for a baby requiring such intensive attention, nor could she face her own upcoming surgery.
Her baby had been her last hope for a stable, wealthy life, but when the B-mode ultrasound first revealed the child's disability, she had considered death. She had clung to the hope of a miracle, only to find retribution.
Concluding that she could not steal her child's chance at life, but also unwilling to continue living, she decided the only thing she could do for both her children, the newborn and Yu Xi, was to ensure they didn't have a mother like her. Lu Chenxi rushed to the OB Department upon hearing the devastating news, only to find Liu Ling's body.
Overwhelmed with guilt, she called Zhuang Shu, questioning if her efforts to save the child, as a doctor, had been misguided. She lamented not understanding Liu Ling's full situation and the harsh future she faced, feeling she had wrongly forced responsibility upon her. The tragedy cast a pall over the hospital. Lu Chenxi locked herself in her office for three hours, silently weeping, refusing to open the door even for Zhuang Shu.
She felt immense personal responsibility, believing this might be her last night at Renhe Hospital. Zhuang Shu tried to convey Director Yang's instruction for her to go home and await the hospital's official notice, but Lu Chenxi reiterated her intention to stay. Zhuang Shu left, promising to be in his office if she needed anything.
He then contacted Dean Fu, not only to discuss Lu Chenxi's situation but also to bring up Lin Sen, a pediatric patient whose urgent surgery was best performed by Lu Chenxi using her specialized technique. Zhuang Shu inquired if the operation plan or lead surgeon needed to be changed due to the current circumstances, and Dean Fu agreed to review the patient's files.
The incident had caused a major stir at the hospital, with Director Yang fielding calls from the Health Commission and media. Director Yang expressed his frustration to Dean Fu, stating that Lu Chenxi was talented but too self-assured and often caused trouble, making it difficult to maintain hospital management. He recounted how Lu Chenxi's indispensable skills meant she was repeatedly brought back to resolve crises, ultimately leading to the current mess.
Zhuang Shu took responsibility for inviting Lu Chenxi back for recent surgeries, but Director Yang emphasized that the critical issue was the patient's suicide within the hospital, which superiors would investigate for dereliction of duty and mismanagement, focusing on who might have triggered the suicide. Director Zhong, speaking with Dean Fu, suggested that Lu Chenxi's fault lay in her hurried approach to saving lives, rather than major wrongdoing, and proposed that the worst outcome would be probation.
He even suggested letting her leave Renhe for Central Hospital, whose director had previously attempted to recruit her, offering her a return to Thoracic Surgery. Dean Fu, however, was reluctant to let her go, blaming himself for spoiling her and for his own shortcomings as her mentor and as the hospital's dean. He believed Renhe Hospital should be able to accommodate a doctor who dedicated herself to treating illnesses.
Director Yang then confronted Zhuang Shu directly, acknowledging Lu Chenxi's arguments with Liu Ling and her persistent efforts to persuade the patient, which he believed constituted excessive pressure. Zhuang Shu countered that he, as Liu Ling's primary physician, should bear the main responsibility.
He stated that he had made all treatment decisions and interacted extensively with the patient, admitting his failure to fully understand Liu Ling's personal background and mental state, and that his dogmatic approach had led to the tragic outcome. Director Yang warned Zhuang Shu that taking such responsibility would tarnish his medical career and questioned if it was truly worth it for Lu Chenxi. Later, Lu Chenxi emerged from her office.
Despite the ongoing crisis, she insisted on checking on Liu Ling's baby, driven by her professional duty. She examined the child, checked his urine output, suctioned secretions, and gave detailed instructions to the attending staff. Professor Chen supported her actions, acknowledging her unique expertise in the child's condition. Lu Chenxi thanked Professor Chen, regretting that she might no longer be able to participate in the child's treatment, and asked them to care for him.
As she walked despondently through the hospital hallway, she saw Zhuang Shu. Tears welled in her eyes, and Zhuang Shu approached, taking her hand and gently saying, "Let's go. Let's go home." In the car, Lu Chenxi reflected on her actions, questioning her unwavering belief that her medical knowledge gave her the right to decide for others' lives and wondering if the saved child would one day thank her or resent her.
She expressed her willingness to accept any disciplinary action, including suspension or investigation. However, she pleaded to remain involved as a consultant in the child's treatment, desiring to do something for him. Zhuang Shu, listening quietly, responded simply that what she needed most was to eat and sleep.
