Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 208

Fifth Vitality- Episode 208

208. What Exactly Do You Mean?

“Yes, this is Kwon Soo-hyun.”

The person who answered the phone was Kwon Soo-hyun, who had taken Tae-kyung’s position thanks to the chairman’s backing.

“Yes, Professor. I’m calling to notify you from the emergency room. It’s a 36-year-old female patient with abdominal bleeding.”

“Ah! Enough.”

Kwon Soo-hyun cut off the intern before they could even finish speaking.

“Are her vitals unstable?”

“Yes, Professor. Her SBP [systolic blood pressure] is below 100, and her HR [heart rate] is 118.”

“Just have any of our residents put in orders. Once she’s somewhat stable, have them do a CT scan and whatever other tests they need, and tell them to call me when it’s done.”

“Professor, I’m sorry, but which resident are you referring to…?”

“Just contact the third-year. They do this every day in the ICU [Intensive Care Unit]; they’re better at it than I am.”

“Yes, I understand. And Professor, the patient’s guardian…”

Click-

Before the intern could finish speaking, the call was abruptly cut off.

The intern, who had been trying to make the notification, looked at the nurse beside them with a dumbfounded expression.

“Ha! That professor is such a dog.”

It spoke volumes that the cautious intern would refer to Kwon Soo-hyun as a dog.

Frankly, even calling him a dog was too good. Inwardly, curses like ‘son of a bitch’ were bubbling up.

Even the nurse beside them sided with the intern, agreeing.

“He’s always like that. I don’t know if it’s because he’s a gold spoon [born into wealth] or if his personality is just trash, but he really tries not to do any work.”

“Exactly!”

“Since I became a nurse, I’ve never seen a doctor who studies so little. It’s only the patients who suffer.”

“Ha! Seriously. Well, hopefully, the residents will handle it well.”

The intern, with a frustrated and annoyed expression, picked up the phone again and dialed.

“Hello, Doctor. I’m calling to notify you from the emergency room. 36 years old…”

“I’m here.”

As the intern was making the call, the third-year resident placed a hand on their shoulder and said.

“Hello.”

“I’ll take care of things here. You go do your work.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Seriously, isn’t the professor going too far? A patient comes in, and he doesn’t even bother to see them. What is he, some kind of cyber doctor?”

The nurse complained about Kwon Soo-hyun as soon as she saw the resident.

“Ugh! Tell me about it. Last time, there was a really critical patient, and he just told us to handle it ourselves. Even now, her vitals are unstable, and he’s telling us to handle it. Thanks to him, our skills are really improving, though. I’m so damn grateful.”

“Seriously, everyone suffers so much because of that professor. Even in the operating room last time…”

“I know all about it. I heard everything. Let’s see the patient first.”

“Yes, Doctor.”

“She seems to be bleeding a lot. Let’s start norepinephrine (a vasoconstrictor). Give 1L bolus of Plasma solution (a type of IV fluid with an electrolyte ratio similar to body fluids) and prepare for a blood transfusion.”

“Yes.”

“Have the guardian come in and get all the necessary consent forms signed. Thankfully, her breathing is okay for now. Let’s stabilize her blood pressure and get her to CT right away. Oh, and what’s that piercing her abdomen? I haven’t seen it myself yet.”

“It looks like some kind of glass.”

“I see. I’ll have to take a look myself.”

The resident, after issuing the urgent orders, went to see Gam Ji-yeon, while the nurse went to Lee Min-woo, who was anxiously waiting in the guardian’s waiting room.

“Excuse me, are you the guardian of Gam Ji-yeon?”

“Yes, I am. How is my wife?”

“You must have been very worried. The doctor is examining her now. We need to get a CT scan, so please come with me, and I’ll explain the consent forms.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Lee Min-woo wiped away tears with one hand, composed himself, and followed the nurse.

* * *

Luxury Korean Restaurant-

“This wine is very sweet, isn’t it?”

“Indeed.”

Go Gye-deuk, having successfully received the donation as planned, was sharing a meal and a drink with Yoon Bu-shil.

“This ginseng inside is very precious. I brought it especially for you today, Senior.”

“I’m really living the high life thanks to Director Go. Hahaha!”

Unaware that the department store was in chaos, the two were filling their bellies with greasy food when Yoon Bu-shil’s secretary entered with a frantic knock.

Thud, thud-

“Chairman!”

“Why are you suddenly barging in here?”

“Chairman, we have a big problem. There’s been an accident at the department store, and someone is seriously injured.”

“An accident?”

Yoon Bu-shil, who had his phone on vibrate during the pleasant meal, was unaware of the accident.

“Please take a look at this.”

“Ha! Damn it! This is going to be a headache. You should have contacted me sooner when something like this happens!”

“I kept calling, but… I’m sorry.”

“A decoration fell?”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“How much was that thing worth? How badly was the person injured?”

“We’re still assessing, but I understand they lost a lot of blood.”

“Which hospital? Where did they go? Find out quickly.”

“They’re at Shinhwa University Hospital, I’m told.”

“…!”

The moment the words ‘Shinhwa University Hospital’ came out of the secretary’s mouth, Yoon Bu-shil and Go Gye-deuk exchanged glances. And as if by agreement, their eyes seemed to be subtly smiling.

“Do we have someone there now?”

“Yes, the head of the management team has arrived.”

“Okay. I’ll contact them. You go out and wait.”

“Yes?”

“What do you mean, ‘yes’? I said go out and wait.”

“…Yes, Chairman.”

Thud, thud-

“Director Go? You heard everything, too, right?”

“Yes, Senior. How fortunate that the person who had the accident happens to be at our hospital.”

“That’s what I’m saying. I don’t know how lucky I am to have met Director Go today. Could you handle it appropriately? We had a safety accident before, and the reporters came swarming in, and the media made such a fuss. It was exhausting. I hope this can pass quietly…”

Yoon Bu-shil was trying to bury the accident quietly before it became a major issue.

Articles about shoddy construction had already started appearing in the media, making him anxious.

“Of course, Senior. I’ll take care of everything. Don’t worry.”

“Really? You’re such a go-getter, Director Go. I’ll make sure to give you a generous research grant soon.”

“Thank you, Senior. In that case, may I make a phone call?”

“Of course, go ahead.”

Go Gye-deuk, holding his phone, got up and made a call to someone.

Yoon Bu-shil also called the head of public relations and instructed them to block articles in the media and issue corrections regarding the shoddy construction.

He conveniently omitted his own negligence in management and supervision, ensuring that the articles were released in a way that was favorable to him.

* * *

“How’s the patient’s BP [blood pressure]?”

The resident who had seen Gam Ji-yeon came back down and asked the nurse.

“Yes, it’s 105/78. HR [heart rate] is 95.”

“Packed RBC [red blood cell] transfusion is in progress, right?”

“Yes. And 2L of Plasma solution has been administered. Norepinephrine is being administered at 4 micrograms per minute.”

“Okay. Maintain that and you took a CT scan, right?”

“Yes.”

“Doctor, you’ve been coming right away as soon as we call you today?”

The senior nurse next to her asked.

“One of the hospitals closest to the department store is our hospital, and that area always has a lot of TA [traffic accident] patients, so I figured they’d come here. And the news is reporting the department store accident, so it seems like a big deal.”

“Department store and news?”

“Ah, yes. You haven’t seen it yet. That new department store that just opened, the one that’s so huge it’s in the Guinness Book of World Records.”

“Ah! That one? I was planning to go there on the weekend.”

“The accident happened there. They say someone was injured when a ceiling decoration fell.”

“Oh dear! No wonder she’s so badly injured.”

“It’s lucky. Of course, she’s still badly injured, but if it had hit her head or the center of her abdomen, she would have died instantly.”

“It’s a blessing in disguise. The guardian keeps crying; it’s heartbreaking.”

“Of course. His wife is injured. Anyway, that department store is famous, so the articles are talking about shoddy construction and stuff, so it seems like it’s going to be noisy.”

“Excuse me…”

While the resident was talking to the nurse, two well-built men in suits entered the emergency room.

“If you’re here for treatment, please register first.”

“No, that’s not it. We heard that the person who was injured at the department store was brought here.”

“They’re receiving treatment now. Who are you?”

“Could we see the professor in charge of the patient? Or at least their name…”

“What’s this about?”

“Yes, I’m the head of the JQ Department Store management team. This is my subordinate. We want to help in any way we can, since we are also responsible.”

The department store employees, who had followed the ambulance, had been observing the situation until now to avoid being seen by Lee Min-woo, the guardian.

Then, after receiving a call from Yoon Bu-shil, they saw an opportunity and rushed into the emergency room. Contacting the hospital was a higher priority than discussing compensation with the victim.

“Then tell me. I’ll pass it on.”

“That’s… it’s an issue we need to discuss directly. I’m sorry.”

“I’m afraid that’s not possible. I’m the attending physician. Either tell me or leave.”

“Then, just a moment.”

The employees, surprised by the resident’s firm attitude, went outside for a moment and made a call to someone.

Rrrrrrrrrr

Then, a moment later, the resident’s phone rang.

“Yes, Professor.”

-Someone’s looking for me?

The person who called was Kwon Soo-hyun.

“Yes, the employees from the department store where the trauma patient was injured just arrived. They said they have something to say to you, Professor.”

-Escort them to my office.

“Yes? Are you sure? Still…”

-I don’t want to either, but the director suddenly called me. It’s not like having a conversation is difficult. Just escort them.”

“Yes, I understand.”

The resident tilted their head, thinking it was a strange situation. Then, the department store employees, guided by the resident, arrived at Kwon Soo-hyun’s office.

Knock, knock-

“Come in.”

“Hello, Professor.”

The employees entered the office, gave a polite greeting, handed over their business cards, and sat down.

“I’m the head of the JQ Department Store management team. This is my subordinate.”

“Hello, Professor.”

“Yes, hello. But what brings you here to see me directly…?”

“The truth is, we are very concerned about the patient’s injury this time. First of all, we would like to compensate the patient for the damage caused. In this regard…”

“Just a moment. You don’t have to beat around the bush like that.”

Kwon Soo-hyun raised his hand and cut off the management team leader, who was rambling on.

“I’ve already received a call from the director and I’m well aware of the situation. I know many people in the business world, so just get to the point.”

“I’m glad you’re a man who understands, Professor. Then I’ll tell you what we want.”

The management team leader continued, confident that the conversation would go smoothly.

“We would like you to step away from that patient.”

“What exactly do you mean by ‘step away’?”