Thank You Doctor Episode 17 Recap
> Thank You Doctor Recap
Jiang Shan asked Xiao Yan to look after Jiang Xian Yun and speak with him while she returned home to handle a burst water pipe. Lu Ping'an, having learned of Jiang Shan's predicament, offered her a ride, noting how aged she seemed. He encouraged her to prioritize her well-being for Jiang Xian Yun's sake and arranged a special meal plan for them from the hospital cafeteria. Xiao Yan found Jiang Xian Yun in severe pain.
He expressed his frustration that everyone encouraged him to fight his illness but no one acknowledged his suffering. He asked if she, too, thought he was a coward for wanting to give up. Xiao Yan sympathized, acknowledging the unbearable pain he must be enduring and stating she believed his decision to forgo resuscitation was not impulsive but deeply considered.
She promised to convey his wishes to the hospital staff, asking him to hold on a little longer for himself and Jiang Shan. Lu Ping'an convened an emergency meeting to discuss Jiang Xian Yun's request. Bai Shu, however, refused to participate, arguing that the patient's condition was stable and that doctors should not agree to let a patient die.
Xiao Yan confronted Bai Shu, asserting that respecting a patient's wishes involved a doctor's professional judgment, not simply allowing them to choose death. She highlighted Jiang Xian Yun's chronic pain and his right to a dignified end, pointing out his late-stage cancer, severe internal and external injuries, and lower limb paralysis. Bai Shu countered that patients might wish to die due to temporary weakness from suffering, and doctors must not abandon a life.
He firmly believed that merely being alive constituted the greatest dignity and value, questioning why Xiao Yan, who previously fought relentlessly to save another patient, Fang Nan, would now seemingly surrender to death. Their heated argument ended with Bai Shu declaring he would make the final decisions for his patients and walking out.
Lu Ping'an, Xu Yiran, Tang Hua, and Chen Zhi all supported Bai Shu's perspective, emphasizing that saving a patient's life was paramount in traditional Chinese medicine and citing the old saying "Better to live a bad life than to die a good one." Lu Ping'an advised Xiao Yan to consider local context rather than solely applying foreign medical philosophies. Xiao Yan, though disheartened by her colleagues' stance, felt immense sadness for Jiang Xian Yun's continued suffering.
Later, Jiang Xian Yun, overwhelmed by pain, defiantly pulled out all his medical tubes. Bai Shu rushed to his side, discovered he had pneumothorax, and performed an emergency closed chest drainage, ultimately saving his life. Witnessing the ordeal, Xiao Yan was deeply troubled and tried to speak with Jiang Shan, gently suggesting she consider the medical team's perspective. Jiang Shan, however, as a distressed family member, tearfully insisted on wanting her husband to live.
Bai Shu confronted Xiao Yan, questioning if she could truly watch a patient choose to give up. Xiao Yan maintained that for many patients, it was a valid choice. Bai Shu then sternly warned her not to impose her medical philosophy on him or his patients. Jiang Xian Yun subsequently refused to eat, drink, or speak, glaring with resentment at Bai Shu. He violently knocked a water glass from Jiang Shan's hand.
Bai Shu, observing Jiang Xian Yun's profound anger, felt a mix of complex emotions. Xu Yiran later discussed the situation with Bai Shu, acknowledging that while he agreed with saving Jiang Xian Yun, Xiao Yan's perspective, common among doctors abroad, also held merit. He pointed out that Jiang Xian Yun's prolonged suffering was a torment for both him and Jiang Shan, implying Bai Shu's decision might have led to greater pain.
Xu Yiran also noted that while doctors are professionally trained, human emotions and instincts often prevail. Bai Shu, still firm in his conviction that he had done nothing wrong, dismissed Xu Yiran's concerns. Lu Ping'an brought bitter melons from his hometown for Jiang Xian Yun, hoping they might provide some relief. Jiang Shan clarified that Jiang Xian Yun had requested something light and cooling.
In a separate case, an elderly patient experiencing persistent nausea and vomiting was forcibly brought to Tongshan Hospital by his daughter. Despite his refusal, the daughter insisted on a check-up. Initial tests by Xu Yiran showed only low protein and blood sodium levels, prompting a recommendation for a chest and abdomen CT. The old man vehemently refused, citing fears of radiation and medical expenses, and stormed out. Days later, his symptoms worsened, and his daughter brought him back.
He again refused the CT. Xiao Yan, observing his stubbornness, suspected he was hiding something. She asked the daughter to leave, and the old man confessed he had late-stage lung cancer, which he was concealing from his daughter. He explained he didn't want her to exhaust her savings on his untreatable illness, preferring her to save for a home and marriage.
Xiao Yan, respecting his wish, promised to keep his secret and arranged a confidential re-diagnosis for him alone that afternoon. The subsequent tests confirmed late-stage lung cancer, showing multiple ground-glass nodules and swollen mediastinal lymph nodes. Xiao Yan prescribed inexpensive medication to help manage his pain. When his daughter returned, Xiao Yan reassured her that her father's low protein and blood sodium were likely natural conditions, successfully keeping the truth hidden.
The old man offered Xiao Yan a grateful smile as he left with his daughter. Later, discussing the cases, Xu Yiran told Bai Shu about the elderly patient, suggesting that Xiao Yan's approach in respecting the patient's decision to forgo aggressive treatment might be the right one. Xu Yiran reflected that while doctors undergo extensive training, emotions and instincts often play a significant role in their decisions, making it hard to be purely rational.
Bai Shu, still firm in his conviction that he had done nothing wrong, dismissed Xu Yiran's concerns. Later, Bai Shu and Xiao Yan were featured in a TV interview about their work at the Emergency Department. Bai Shu's nephew, Little Guang, watched, remarking on how good Xiao Yan looked on television and teasing Bai Shu about his own appearance. Their colleagues playfully suggested they could star in an idol drama, especially one with a "tormenting love" storyline.
Xiao Yan complimented Bai Shu on his performance in the interview. Later, Xiao Yan informed Bai Shu that Jiang Xian Yun wished to speak with him, indicating it wasn't about his previous request to refuse treatment. Bai Shu, despite his earlier reluctance, eventually agreed to go.
