Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 49

Fifth Vital Sign – Episode 49

49. Appointment as Professor

Shinhwa University Hospital.

“You worked hard, Doctor.”

“Did I even do anything?”

Anesthesiologist Lee Dong-hoon was walking down the hallway with a nurse after finishing a long surgery.

“Why wouldn’t you have done anything? Anesthesia is the foundation and the most important part of the operating room.”

“You always have a way with words, Nurse Na.”

“But about today’s surgery, if Dr. Kim Tae-kyung had performed it, wouldn’t it have finished faster?”

The surgery was delayed because the problematic professor who came to fill Tae-kyung’s vacancy was fumbling.

“That’s true.”

“You saw him spacing out in the middle, right? I think it would have ended an hour earlier.”

An hour is something. If it were Tae-kyung, I could confidently say it would have ended two hours earlier.

“Sigh. Talking about Dr. Kim makes me miss him. I hope he’s doing well.”

“Of course. I heard he’s doing well.”

“Really? Well, he’s skilled and treats patients so well, so I figured he must be doing well.”

Lee Dong-hoon, who had recently contacted him, still couldn’t forget Tae-kyung’s voice at that time.

‘Dr. Kim, are you doing well? Are you okay?’

Until then, he couldn’t even send a text message because he felt guilty for not helping when he was kicked out of the hospital. But as soon as he made the call with a sorry heart, he received an answer that made his worries seem unnecessary.

‘I’m having a great time.’

It wasn’t just a simple cover-up. It was a voice full of genuine joy, quite different from when he was struggling while fighting for patients. It was a short call, but he could tell that Tae-kyung was doing well at the new hospital.

“Oh, right! Doctor, do you know what rumors are going around the hospital these days?”

“What rumors?”

“Rumors about Dr. Kim Tae-kyung.”

“Dr. Kim? What about him?”

“Get this, the hospital director is trying to bring Dr. Kim back.”

“No way, really?”

“Oh, come on! Doctor, have you forgotten what kind of person our hospital director is? He thinks of the hospital as a department store.”

Lee Dong-hoon almost laughed at the nurse’s candid [frank and outspoken] expression.

“He’s always busy showing off to the outside world, as if he’s shopping for luxury bags, only picking out and displaying people who can make money, whether they’re patients or doctors.”

“Still, bringing Dr. Kim back doesn’t make sense, does it?”

“Everyone who heard the rumor thinks so too. How can he kick him out and then try to bring him back? He’s such a shameless person.”

No matter what, trying to bring Tae-kyung back was not right.

“It’s probably just a rumor.”

“Dr. Lee Dong-hoon?”

Lee Dong-hoon, who was heading to his office muttering to himself after talking with the nurse, was called by an unexpected person.

“You’re finally here.”

Professor Lee, who made the talented Tae-kyung live a life of servitude, was standing in front of the office door.

“The surgery took quite a while, I see.”

“What brings the head [department head] to my office…?”

“I came to quietly tell Dr. Lee Dong-hoon something.”

“To me?”

Lee Dong-hoon was puzzled because they didn’t have much contact other than seeing each other occasionally in the operating room.

“Yes, it’s important, so can I come in?”

“Sure.”

Lee Dong-hoon came into the office and sat facing Professor Lee.

“What do you want to say to me?”

“You must be tired from the surgery, so I’ll get straight to the point. I heard that you are close to Dr. Kim Tae-kyung.”

“Ah, yes. Well, I am, but why are you asking…?”

“I would like you to help me, or rather, our hospital.”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“The director is trying to bring Dr. Kim Tae-kyung back.”

“…”

So the rumor the nurse mentioned earlier was true. Lee Dong-hoon thought the director really had no conscience.

“But why are you telling me this and asking for my help?”

“I was hoping you could persuade him.”

“Persuade? Are you telling me to meet Dr. Kim and persuade him?”

“That’s right.”

“No, Doctor. Even so, does this make sense?”

Lee Dong-hoon, who was usually a good-natured person, felt annoyed without realizing it at the absurd suggestion.

“How much did Dr. Kim suffer here…? And you’ve got the wrong person.”

Lee Dong-hoon was angry at how lightly they thought of Tae-kyung, kicking him out and then trying to bring him back.

“Isn’t the director being too much? I won’t do that.”

“I know it’s wrong. But what can we do? We need Dr. Kim.”

“If you have nothing more to say, I’ll be leaving now…”

“The position of director of the Samcheok branch will be vacant next year.”

Professor Lee made an unexpected offer to Lee Dong-hoon, who had stood up to open the office door.

“If you help persuade Dr. Kim, I promise you that position.”

Professor Lee, who had received personal research funds, could not go against the director’s wishes. In the end, he put his head together to bring Tae-kyung back according to his wishes.

He decided to use Lee Dong-hoon, who was closest to Tae-kyung at Shinhwa University Hospital, to get what he wanted without getting his hands dirty.

“The Samcheok branch?”

“Yes. Oh, I heard your children are studying in the United States. Both are in the arts. I also sent my children to study abroad, so I know the tuition is very high, isn’t it?”

“…”

“The branch is quite lucrative.”

I know. Samcheok was the most solid of Shinhwa’s branches. Among colleagues, there were already many who envied the new director who would be appointed next year, saying he would get a sweet [desirable] position.

“And if Dr. Kim comes back, we plan to appoint him as a professor right away.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Don’t you know how much Dr. Kim wanted to become a professor? I think this is a pretty good offer.”

“Well… it’s too sudden. Can I think about it and let you know?”

Professor Lee, who thought it wouldn’t be easy, was satisfied with Lee Dong-hoon’s reaction, which was different from before.

“Of course. It wouldn’t look good for us if you ran to him right away after Dr. Kim left.”

“…”

“Dr. Kim has to live by performing surgeries, but if he goes outside, will GS [General Surgery department] have the conditions to perform surgeries comfortably? Who would have surgery in a small hospital like a neighborhood convenience store? Everyone is busy looking for big hospitals. This is a serious waste of manpower.”

That’s true too. No matter how skilled a surgeon is, what good is it if he can’t perform surgery?

Lee Dong-hoon had many thoughts. The positions of branch director and professor were better offers than he thought, and so was Tae-kyung.

“And to be honest, even if he doesn’t show it on the outside, Dr. Kim is probably regretting it inside.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Okay. Then I’ll be going now. Think about it slowly.”

Professor Lee shook Lee Dong-hoon’s heart and left the office.

* * *

Several days have passed since the Choi Sun-hae patient incident.

“Okay! All the stitches are out. It doesn’t hurt, does it?”

“Doctor, a man doesn’t feel pain from something like this.”

Tae-kyung was examining a male student who had a lipoma [benign fatty tumor] removed.

“That’s strange. Last time, when I was giving you anesthesia, you were so scared that your lips were trembling.”

“Oh, Doctor, you must have seen it wrong. I’m not afraid of needles.”

The good-natured male student never forgot to be cheerful every time he came.

“That’s good. I was going to give you another shot today, but you’re okay with it, right?”

“Huh? No. That’s a bit…”

“I’m just kidding. Just kidding.”

“It’s against the rules for a doctor to joke with a patient. It scares the patient.”

“Okay, I’m sorry.”

“Hey!”

The male student’s mother, who was next to him, suddenly smacked her son’s back.

“Ouch. Mom, that hurts!”

“You, what kind of language is that to use with the doctor?”

“It’s okay.”

“Doctor. By the way, why do lipomas occur?”

“There is no clear cause. There are cases where there is a genetic tendency, but Dong-woo’s case is not genetic.”

“You’re so kind. Our mother and everyone else praise you a lot.”

“I’m grateful that you see me in a good light.”

“It would be nice if our Dong-woo could become a wonderful doctor like you. Isn’t that right, son?”

“Mom, I’m last in my class…”

“Doctor, we’ll be going now. Son, get up quickly.”

The mother, embarrassed by the sudden announcement of her grades, grabbed her son’s wrist and hurriedly said goodbye and left the office.

“It’s nice to see the mother and son together. By the way, you know you can’t do this anymore, right?”

“What?”

Tae-kyung answered as if he didn’t know at Nurse Lim Jeong-sook’s question.

“I can’t give up the weekends either. You don’t go home on weekdays even if I stop you, so at least take a break on the weekends.”

It was a story about Tae-kyung’s workload.

“You need to practice resting. Do you think a doctor is made of steel? Got it?”

“Oh, right! Is Choi Sun-hae eating well?”

Tae-kyung appropriately changed the subject before Nurse Lim Jeong-sook’s nagging got longer.

“Yes, she says it’s perfect for her taste and she looks forward to mealtime the most.”

Choi Sun-hae, who had stopped the bleeding a few days ago, had completed all the remaining surgeries and was recovering.

“Choi Sun-hae’s expression has changed beyond recognition.”

“I think it’s because she feels comfortable because her personal problems have been resolved. It’s a good thing.”

“That’s right. I was worried when I heard about her daughter’s wedding expenses, but I’m glad she got compensation.”

“Of course, money isn’t everything, but I think that compensation is a good way in Choi Sun-hae’s situation.”

“I think so too. So you’re resting this weekend, right?”

“Ehem. I’m going to the emergency room.”

“No, Doctor. You have to answer before you go.”

* * *

“Patient Lee Kyung-ae? The test results are out.”

At Choi Mona’s words, the woman in her 30s struggled to get up from the bed.

“All the blood tests, urine tests, X-rays, electrocardiograms [ECG], and CT scans are normal.”

“The test results are all okay?”

“Yes. As you heard. There are no abnormal findings and it’s just acute gastritis [inflammation of the stomach lining]. When the IV you’re getting is finished, you can get a prescription and leave.”

“Excuse me, Doctor?”

The patient called out to Choi Mona again, who was about to turn around after only delivering her message.

“Just a moment? Is there really nothing wrong with me? Is it just acute gastritis? My stomach hurts so much.”

“If it’s not gastritis, what disease do you think it is?”

“Yes? No, I was just wondering if gastritis is normally this painful. I was worried that it might be something else.”

An unexpected answer accompanied by a dry tone returned to the patient who asked again with worried eyes.

“I’m the doctor, not the patient.”

“…Yes?”

“As a doctor, I know how much and how badly the patient hurts. I heard you say that the pain had subsided compared to the first time when I stopped by in the middle. Right?”

“That’s true, but it still hurts.”

“There’s still IV fluid left. And there are many people who complain of more severe pain than what you said with acute gastritis. Some people say it hurts like they’re being scratched with an awl [pointed tool for piercing holes].”

The patient, who was embarrassed by the continued harsh tone, didn’t know what to say.

“And do you remember what you said when I first asked you about your medical history that you live on coffee and flour? If you eat like that, you’re bound to get gastritis. As you know, reduce flour, caffeine, carbonated drinks, fried foods, and spicy foods, and manage your diet with healthy food. Why is a young person torturing their body?”

“…”

“Do you have anything else to say?”

“No.”

The patient answered no to the comment that seemed to hope that there was nothing more to say.

“Then finish the IV. If you have any discomfort in the middle, please call me anytime.”

With the cold sound of the curtain closing, Choi Mona went outside, and the nurse next to her spoke to the patient.

“Excuse me?”

“Yes, patient. Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”

“Please take this out?”

“Yes?”

“I’m asking you to take out the IV needle.”

“You still have more to get.”

“I know. I’m sorry, but I don’t want to be here anymore. It’s just gastritis anyway, and I’ve already gotten more than half of the IV. I want to pay and leave quickly.”

The patient, who just wanted a word that it was okay, suddenly felt a surge of sadness. Aside from the cold attitude, she didn’t want to be here for even a second because of the doctor who made the patient feel embarrassed.

“It will help if you get it all.”

“Thank you for your words, but please just take it out.”

“I’m sorry, patient.”

“Why is the nurse apologizing when the person involved is still? I asked because it was my first time experiencing gastritis, but I’m so embarrassed because of the doctor. Why do I have to see a doctor with such anxiety while paying my own money…?”

“Then how about changing to another doctor?”

“No. It’s okay. Please take it out quickly.”

At the patient’s repeated request, the nurse had no choice but to remove the IV needle.

“Sigh, Dr. Choi is really… Ack!”

Chwa-reuk-

The nurse, who was cleaning up the remaining IV fluid after the patient left, was surprised by the sound of the curtain suddenly opening.

The person who made the presence with the violent curtain sound was Tae-kyung.

“Did the patient leave?”