Surgeons Episode 19 Recap
> Surgeons Recap
Lu Chenxi's grief was overwhelming. After Zhuang Shu encouraged her to rest, she went to her room but found herself unable to sleep. Around an hour later, she joined Zhuang Shu in the kitchen, who was preparing a meal with ingredients she had bought. Zhuang Shu, noticing her renewed tears, gently reminded her that expressing her emotions was good, but Lu Chenxi wished crying could solve problems. She then began making her father's signature shrimp dish.
As they cooked, Zhuang Shu shared a personal story to comfort her. Early in his medical career in California, he encountered a female patient whose clan forbade abortion and contraception, believing every child was God's will. She had six children in eleven years, starting at age nineteen, leading to chronic depression.
She secretly begged Zhuang Shu to perform a sterilization surgery, but he, unwilling to violate his principles, advised her to communicate with her family and found her a psychiatrist and social worker. However, her family rejected the suggestions, and she couldn't afford the psychiatrist. Six months later, he saw her body in the emergency room, along with her twenty-seven-week-old fetus.
Zhuang Shu explained that in life science, one can only strive for their best, not perfection, and doctors must maintain a clear conscience, accepting that regrets and self-blame, alongside pride and achievements, are inseparable parts of the profession. He told Lu Chenxi that while her promotion request might be canceled, they would both continue to be responsible for Liu Ling's newborn child's treatment.
Lu Chenxi asked if the hospital would agree, and Zhuang Shu affirmed that he had spoken with Director Yang. Meanwhile, a meeting was convened with Zhao Chong Guang, Deputy Commissioner of the Jialin City Health Commission, and Liang Si Jin, Dean of Jialin Medical University, to address the escalating controversy surrounding Liu Ling's death. Zhao Chong Guang highlighted public accusations that a Renhe Hospital doctor had insulted a patient and pressured her into suicide, specifically due to her "immoral" status.
Zhong, the Director of the Emergency Department, clarified that the accusations of insulting the patient were false, recounting an incident in the ER where the patient's ex-husband's original wife threw eggs, and doctors protected Liu Ling. Zhong also explained a widely shared photo of an argument between Lu Chenxi and Liu Ling's family, stating it was a misunderstanding when Liu Ling's other daughter recognized her mother at the hospital, and Liu Ling was unwilling to acknowledge her.
The leaders questioned why the hospital hadn't used public relations channels to address the rumors. Yang Fan explained that the matter involved the patient's private family situation, and a public announcement would reveal sensitive information, making it difficult to fully appease public sentiment. Liang Si Jin then questioned Lu Chenxi's persistence in pressuring Liu Ling for the baby's surgery. Zhong countered that the baby's condition was critical, and earlier surgery significantly increased recovery chances, reducing complications.
When the leaders expressed dissatisfaction that Lu Chenxi was still involved in the child's care, Professor Chen defended her, emphasizing that while doctors aim to save lives, they cannot control every outcome, and the priority should be to provide the best treatment for the child by the most knowledgeable doctor. Outside the hospital, Qi Da Wei angrily tried to confront the doctors, but Zheng Yan Hua blocked his path, urging him to calm down.
He was furious, blaming the doctors for Liu Ling's suicide, claiming they looked down on her and pressured her. Zheng Yan Hua sternly told him that doctors were not responsible, explaining that Liu Ling’s despair stemmed from learning about his company's financial troubles, which shattered her sense of security. Qi Da Wei then realized that Secretary Zhao must have informed Liu Ling about his incarceration, causing her distress.
He still couldn't understand why Liu Ling hadn't told him about the baby's condition. Zheng Yan Hua reminded him of five years ago when their son, Ning Ning, was diagnosed with leukemia; Qi Da Wei abandoned them in Canada and returned to China to have another child with Liu Ling. She explained that with such a past, Liu Ling could not have believed he would support her with a potentially disabled child, especially if he was bankrupt.
Zheng Yan Hua concluded by encouraging him to take responsibility for the newborn, contrasting it with Ning Ning, who always had her, while this child only had him. Back at the hospital meeting, Fu Bowen, accompanied by former Dean Xiu Min Qi, arrived. Yang Fan briefly updated Xiu Min Qi on the situation. The leaders questioned why Lu Chenxi, an ER doctor, was the lead surgeon for the infant.
Yang Fan explained that the main attending for Liu Ling and her son was Professor Zhuang, not Lu Chenxi, according to their medical records. Yang Fan then presented a narrative suggesting Zhuang Shu, as a foreign specialist from the US, was unfamiliar with China's social realities.
He elaborated that in the US, insurance covers congenital malformations, alleviating financial burdens on parents, so Zhuang Shu hadn't considered the immense pressure a low-birth-weight infant needing two surgeries within a year would place on a single Chinese mother. Therefore, Zhuang Shu had urged Lu Chenxi to convince Liu Ling to proceed quickly.
Yang Fan stated that Zhuang Shu had offered to resign from all managerial positions and apologize to the media, hoping to continue caring for the child with Lu Chenxi. This explanation seemed to appease the leaders. However, Fu Bowen intervened, asserting that Zhuang Shu should not bear the main responsibility, highlighting Zhuang Shu’s deep understanding of China's policies from his past actions, thus refuting the "foreign doctor" excuse.
Zhuang Shu then admitted to Lu Chenxi that he had taken on the main responsibility for her, stating that he could bear the consequences, which included losing managerial positions and student lectures, but she could not. He even playfully noted that she didn't jump up to declare she'd take responsibility and resign, as she might have in the past.
Fu Bowen then expressed his understanding of Zhuang Shu's desire to protect talented individuals like Lu Chenxi but stated he did not endorse such a move. He declared that Renhe Hospital should face its mistakes and protect its doctors’ rights.
Fu Bowen announced that he had already informed the media for a press briefing in an hour, intending to personally explain the tragedy to the public, accepting the hospital's responsibility for failing to prevent it and for poor management, but not blaming the doctors. Xiu Min Qi supported Fu Bowen’s decision.
The leaders, after deliberation, accepted Fu Bowen's approach but insisted on disciplinary action for Lu Chenxi: one year of probation, one month of suspension, a demerit, and a six-month bonus deduction. Fu Bowen then requested that Lu Chenxi be allowed to perform Lin Sen's surgery before her suspension. Yang Fan outlined Lin Sen’s critical condition—a six-year-old with a mediastinal tumor showing complications like dyspnea, choking, and Horner syndrome, requiring immediate surgery to rule out malignancy and prevent metastasis.
He added that the patient's parents specifically requested Lu Chenxi as the lead surgeon. Later, at home, Zhuang Shu's elaborate dinner was ready, but Lu Chenxi had no appetite. Zhuang Shu's playful remark about making dumplings, recalling a past salty dumpling incident, finally brought a smile to her face. During dinner, Zhuang Shu reiterated his commitment to share responsibility for the child’s treatment, deeply moving Lu Chenxi.
He reaffirmed that he took the main responsibility because she could not afford the consequences, while he could. Lu Chenxi remained silent, reflecting on her past impulsiveness. Zhuang Shu then encouraged Lu Chenxi to prepare for Lin Sen's surgery, emphasizing the need to be ready and do her best, even while awaiting the final decision on her role. Lu Chenxi, though her mind was muddled, forced herself to concentrate on the medical records for the upcoming surgery.
