Surgeons Episode 43 Recap
> Surgeons Recap
Xiu Tong's condition had severely worsened, with respiratory failure and various heart, liver, and kidney problems, making further delay impossible. The donor organ was available, but Professor Xu, a highly experienced specialist, could not arrive in time. Xiu Minqi, prioritizing his own reputation over apologizing to Zhuang Shu's mother, insisted that Fu Bowen perform the complex heart and lung transplant.
He instructed Fu Bowen to devise the surgical plan, assigning Yang Fan, Lu Chenxi, and Mo Han as assistants, and also arranged for additional transplant doctors from Central Hospital to assist. However, Fu Bowen firmly refused to undertake such a high-risk procedure, stating, "We cannot gamble on a life," even after Xiu Minqi declared it Xiu Tong's last chance and promised not to blame anyone if the surgery failed.
Lu Chenxi found Fu Bowen, who reiterated his inability to successfully complete the combined heart and lung transplant. Lu Chenxi stressed that Xiu Tong could receive the best treatment if Xiu Minqi would admit his past mistake, ensuring Zhuang Shu would perform the surgery. Fu Bowen expressed resignation, believing it was too late and uncertain if Xiu Minqi would ever regret his choices.
Lu Chenxi countered, arguing that with a capable doctor present, they couldn't watch Xiu Tong lose this opportunity, suggesting they instead give the organs to the next patient if success was uncertain. She then urged Fu Bowen to prepare for surgery while she went to speak with Zhuang Shu. She found Zhuang Shu on a rooftop, seemingly preparing for his departure by assigning his remaining surgeries and interns to her, even proposing a farewell party.
Lu Chenxi directly challenged him, asserting that he was still a doctor at Renhe and knew the truth of the situation. Zhuang Shu, frustrated, pushed back, questioning why she, of all people, should try to convince him, given the injustices committed by doctors at Renhe. Lu Chenxi passionately appealed to him, reminding him that he was not only his mother's son but also a doctor admired by many, imploring him not to let one "evil person" taint his professional beliefs.
She warned that if he didn't participate in Xiu Tong's surgery, he would carry irredeemable guilt. Zhuang Shu retorted that he was human, not a god, with emotions and past regrets, unable to simply discard everything by wearing a white coat. Lu Chenxi then paralleled him with Fu Bowen and Xiu Minqi, suggesting their pride and honor prevented them from facing their true selves, and asked if he wished to become like them.
Zhuang Shu defiantly claimed she was facing his "truest self." Lu Chenxi then described the organ donor, a 23-year-old medical student with biliary cirrhosis whose mother had previously donated part of her liver to him, enabling him to attend Jialin Medical University. His liver had failed again a year ago, and he had personally signed an organ donation form to save more lives. She emphasized that Xiu Tong was the most critical patient and highest-ranked recipient.
Finally, Lu Chenxi acknowledged Zhuang Shu's decision but hoped he wouldn't regret it, adding that she and Fu Bowen would proceed with the surgery, hoping for a miracle. Driving away from the hospital, Zhuang Shu was deeply conflicted. His mind replayed Xiu Minqi's desperate plea as a father, begging for his daughter's life, alongside Lu Chenxi's impassioned words.
He recalled her warning against letting an "evil person" taint his medical career, the fear of unredeemable guilt, and the challenge to face his true self. As Fu Bowen and the surgical team began Xiu Tong's operation, Zhuang Shu's conscience as a doctor ultimately prevailed. He turned his car around, rushing back to the hospital, and arrived in the operating room just as the surgery was beginning, announcing, "I'll take over."
Two weeks later, Zhuang Shu had returned to the United States but remained at home, not yet resuming work at UCLA Medical Center. Lu Chenxi informed Fu Bowen that Zhuang Shu had been diagnosed with mild chronic depression and was on medication, confirming that while Xiu Tong's surgery was successful, the psychological toll on Zhuang Shu was more severe than anticipated. Fu Bowen expressed renewed guilt, feeling he still owed Zhang Shumei.
Meanwhile, Fu Bowen and Lu Chenxi were working to gather data related to Zhang Shumei's old case, with one crucial piece still pending. Yang Fan was officially appointed Dean of Renhe Hospital. As his assistant, Li Jing, helped him settle into his new office, Yang Fan received a push notification for an article published by Yang Zixuan in "Modern Medicine."
The paper, an "Investigation of the chemotherapy practice of 16 secondary hospitals in the periphery of Jialin City," revealed that 80-90% of chemotherapy drugs used in these hospitals, under Renhe's guidance, were the most expensive ones from Pioneer Medical Treatment Corporation, yet lacked superior efficacy. It also noted Pioneer's disproportionately high market share within Renhe Hospital itself for drugs and medical devices. Yang Fan ignored a call from Director-General Jiang of Pioneer, anticipating a confrontation.
That evening, Yang Fan drank heavily at home, confiding in Yang Zixuan. He expressed his long-held belief that he was Renhe's best thoracic surgeon, but felt Fu Bowen mistrusted him, believing he was too self-interested and deliberately withheld challenging cases and resources. He believed he needed to oust Fu Bowen to fully realize his talent, and that power, acquired through funding and pharmaceutical company support, was the means.
He explained that with power, he could do the most difficult surgeries and conquer cutting-edge research projects. However, he confessed that by the time he gained power, he realized he was no longer Renhe's best surgeon; Lu Chenxi could perform surgeries he couldn't, and even knowledgeable patient families like Director-General Jiang specifically requested her. He lamented, "I messed it up." Yang Zixuan remarked that he and his mother had always wished Yang Fan would be a "simpler" doctor.
Yang Fan countered bitterly, arguing that a "simpler" life wouldn't have allowed him to afford his mother's imported medications to prolong her life, implying that if he had been less "simple" earlier, his wife might still be alive to join them at the dinner table. Yang Zixuan insisted he never felt ashamed of their modest home or envious of others' possessions, expressing pride in Yang Fan as an outstanding surgeon.
Yang Fan then assured his son not to compromise his beliefs on his behalf, stating he would meticulously handle his own actions. He asserted that there were no fundamental issues with the drug usage in partner hospitals and that he had a strategy to address the criticisms in Yang Zixuan's paper, with Pioneer Medical Treatment Corporation bearing any financial losses. Yang Zixuan left the table, deeply unsettled, murmuring, "It's all messed up."
The next day, Renhe Hospital hosted a ceremony to commend its staff for their courageous efforts during the Lifeng County mudslide disaster. Xiu Minqi, Fu Bowen, and other key figures attended. Director Zhong Xibei was posthumously honored with the Jialin Medical University's honored professor title and Renhe Hospital's Lifetime Achievement Award, a somber moment given his sacrifice. Lu Chenxi and several other medical professionals were also recognized. After receiving her award, Lu Chenxi remained on stage.
Addressing the entire hospital, she declared that Director Zhong's deepest desire was not the award, but for Renhe Hospital to confront a dark chapter in its past. She recounted the official narrative of her father, Lu Zhonghe's death on June 3, 1984, which attributed it to nurse Zhang Shumei mistakenly administering penicillin despite his known allergy. She noted that Fu Bowen and Xiu Minqi were the attending physicians at the time.
Yang Fan attempted to stop her, deeming such a "sealed case" from 30 years ago inappropriate for the ceremony. Lu Chenxi retorted that she once believed the official story until a doctor revealed the truth was different. Another doctor insisted the investigation's conclusion was clear. Lu Chenxi firmly stated that the drug requisition form had been tampered with, and Zhang Shumei was framed, as she had injected lidocaine, not penicillin, into her father.
Yang Fan tried to dismiss her statements as "irresponsible remarks" and urged her to follow proper channels. However, Fu Bowen intervened, deeming Lu Chenxi's decision to speak about history as "quite reasonable," which compelled Yang Fan to allow her to continue, demanding conciseness and objective truth.
Lu Chenxi confirmed her statements were not assumptions and explained that she possessed testimony written by Director Zhong Xibei before his death, corroborating that he witnessed Zhang Shumei aspirating lidocaine from an ampule, not penicillin from a vial. She also revealed that she had emailed research data on lidocaine hypersensitivity, showing a statistically significant correlation between severe penicillin allergy and a higher chance of lidocaine hypersensitivity.
Since her father had a severe penicillin allergy, she asserted her right to suspect his death was due to lidocaine allergy, not Zhang Shumei's error. Yang Fan tried to discredit her pharmacological data, arguing it couldn't overturn the old investigation. Undeterred, Lu Chenxi declared she could prove someone falsified evidence and framed a nurse to cover up their mistake.
As Yang Fan again referenced the archived files, Fu Bowen stepped forward, dramatically questioning if the archives truly contained all the evidence, specifically asking if the "true procurement form" was also included there.
