First Do No Harm (Benjamin Davis Book Series, Book 1) by A. Turk Read Free Book Online Page A

and performed by Dr. English. In the last two years, the number of gallbladder surgeries at thishospital has increased six-fold. I sat down and reviewed the surgical logs from before and after Dr. Herman and Dr. English arrived at this hospital. Dr. Herman’s purchasing an ultrasound machine and Dr. English’s training in the use of the laparoscope should be obvious evidence of their involvement with the dramatic increase in the number of procedures. Who proctored Dr. English in laparoscopic gallbladder surgery?”
    Dr. Kelly looked at Douglas, and Douglas, back at him. They didn’t have an answer because there was no good answer to the question.
    Laura took their silence as her opportunity to continue: “He took a three-day course, and then he showed up at Plainview Community Hospital and started performing laparoscopic gallbladder surgeries. There are some weeks English removes a gallbladder every day. Who at the hospital made sure that he knew what the hell he was doing? I’ll tell you. No one.”
    Grayson Stevenson broke in, “Those are slanderous allegations, Doctor. You could get sued for such statements.”
    Stevenson’s threat didn’t unnerve her. She was on a roll and was committed to telling the whole story to Dr. Kelly and Stevenson, whether they wanted to hear it or not. She knew Herman and Douglas hadn’t revealed the facts and wouldn’t do so.
    “Bottom line, unnecessary tests, procedures, and surgeries are performed at this hospital for profit. The hospital administration knows about the dramatic increase in tests and procedures and remains silent because the hospital is making big money.”
    She took a breath; it felt good to get some air deep into her lungs and to get her accusations off her chest.She added, “What makes matters worse is the total incompetence of both Dr. Herman and Dr. English.”
    Herman almost came out of his chair; he looked as if he was ready to strangle her.
    Next, Laura described the death of Rosie Malone in detail and how the older woman’s medical condition deteriorated right before her eyes. Everyone in the room knew the story, except Stevenson. She described how Dr. Herman blindsided her and in a very accusatory way ordered her to “mind her own business.”
    She couldn’t contain herself any longer and jumped to her feet to make her most serious accusation. She had sweated through her scrubs and white coat and knew that in the confines of the small office she gave off an unpleasant odor, differently from Stevenson, whose cologne gave off a sickly sweet odor.
    She pointed at Herman. “He let her die. He wouldn’t transfer Rosie Malone because he didn’t want the physicians at Saint Thomas to see what English and he had done to that poor woman. He didn’t want to be second-guessed because she didn’t need the surgery in the first place, Dr. English nicked her bowel, and the postoperative care was horrendous.”
    Herman jumped to his feet and shouted at her, “Who do you think you’re talking to, bitch?”
    Laura and Herman were standing about three inches apart then. She could smell his hot breath. He desperately needed a breath mint. “It was your reckless failure to transfer Mrs. Malone that killed her.”
    She turned to Douglas. “I begged you to transfer her, but you ignored me. And three days later she was dead. She never would have been transferred if her daughter hadn’t pressed for it. He wanted Rosie Malone to die sohis malpractice would die with her.”
    Kelly had enough. He took charge of the meeting and stated sternly, “Your hospital privileges are suspended pending further investigation, Dr. Patel. You’re not to communicate with Mr. Douglas, Dr. Herman, or Dr. English. If one of your patients requires hospitalization, refer him or her to another physician, one with privileges. Your suspension is immediate and without pay—”
    Now she interrupted Dr. Kelly: “I have a contract. The hospital is obligated to pay my rent and $5,000 a month in