The Enhanced Doctor

Everyone, we've convened this hospital committee meeting on short notice today because there's a very important matter to discuss," Chief Director Chen Zhenxing said in the small meeting room of the main building.

"There have been some incidents in the hospital recently, which you've probably heard about. However, before we discuss those, let's watch a video first."

The vice-directors present had assumed they were going to discuss matters concerning the Emergency Department. To their surprise, however, the video showed a surgical procedure.

If Liu Banxia were here, he would be ecstatic, as this video documented his small-incision appendectomy.

After the video finished playing, Sun Changhe, the Chief Director's assistant, turned off the projector and opened the surrounding curtains.

"Everyone, please share your thoughts. What do you think of this surgery?" Chief Director Chen Zhenxing asked with a smile.

"Chief Director, this technique is quite something. Is our hospital planning to invest in this area? Which hospital is this from? Can we recruit them?" Li Mingwu asked.

"It's a bit hard to say right now. Anyone else? Please share your views as well," Chief Director Chen Zhenxing said.

"Our Second Hospital performs no fewer than 800 appendectomies annually, with laparoscopic appendectomies making up around 60% of that total," Li Mingwu began.

"From an overall perspective, laparoscopic surgery, with its small incisions, allows for faster patient recovery post-operation and carries a very low risk of related complications."

"However, there's one situation we need to be aware of: many cases of laparoscopic surgery can endanger the patient's life. This is related to the surgeon's technical skill and also to the patient's own condition."

"Medical technology is constantly evolving, and minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery is indeed the future mainstream model. However, I personally believe that this type of small-incision appendectomy still holds significant research value within the field of appendectomies."

"We are doctors. When patients seek treatment, we also need to consider their financial capacity and post-operative recovery. Providing patients with better, more economical medical services should be the service tenet of our Second Hospital."

"Chief Director, please stop keeping us in suspense. Is this from the First Hospital or the Municipal Hospital? Surely not from the Provincial Hospital, right?" Zhou Zhiyong asked with a laugh.

"Haha, I'm not trying to keep you in suspense. The only reason I didn't introduce it beforehand was that I was afraid everyone might be subjectively biased," Chief Director Chen Zhenxing said, waving his hand.

"I trust everyone has heard of this person recently. He's the one who has turned our Second Hospital upside down—Liu Banxia, the resident doctor from General Surgery."

Chief Director Chen Zhenxing said this casually, but no one present treated it as a casual matter. This was no longer just about one resident doctor; it concerned the Emergency Department of the Second Hospital.

"Chief Director, how is it that I wasn't aware of this?" Zhou Zhiyong asked, frowning.

"Zhou Shuwen showed the video directly to me. He was afraid you'd be biased," Chief Director Chen Zhenxing said with a smile.

"This Liu Banxia has been giving Director Qin of our Emergency Department a terrible headache lately. I heard there was another argument in the Emergency Department today? And even people from the Medical Affairs Department were there?"

"Chief Director, although I don't have a full understanding of this Liu Banxia, I believe that if we are considering hiring him, we should proceed with extreme caution," said Vice Director Wang Rongya, who was in charge of the hospital administration office and finances.

"I haven't deliberately investigated Liu Banxia, but at our administration office meetings, we've already flagged him as a person of significant concern. This is because we're worried he might bring medical disputes to the Second Hospital."

Chief Director Chen Zhenxing nodded. "That's a good point. Medical disputes... they truly are a headache for every hospital. Was today's incident related to this? I heard it was because he accepted a red envelope from a patient, or something like that?"

Chief Director Chen Zhenxing's light words left Vice Director Wang Rongya unsure how to respond. After all, regarding this matter, the Medical Affairs Department's direct issuance of a suspension order was indeed not compliant with regulations.

Normally, it wouldn't have been a big deal. For a resident doctor with no background, a suspension would just be a suspension. But this time was different; it seemed to involve much more.

"I actually know about this. Zhou Shuwen called me personally and complained at length," Li Mingwu spoke up again.

"The cautious approach of the Medical Affairs Department is commendable. However, if they are overly cautious, it can wound the hearts of our hospital's medical staff."

"In the course of treating patients, our doctors often have to speak sternly due to misunderstandings by patients and their families. If they are complained about, they're penalized. If the complaint rate is high, the entire department is penalized."

"I believe we also need to clearly define what constitutes a medical dispute. If it's a dispute arising from our medical negligence, that's a medical dispute. Anything else should be off the table."

"Our frontline medical personnel work, on average, more than twelve hours a day—and that's a very conservative estimate. It's right to consider things from the patient's perspective, but we must cherish our frontline medical staff even more."

"Vice Director Li, I need to explain this. It was mainly because that video caused such a huge commotion online that the Medical Affairs Department decided on a temporary suspension," Wang Rongya said.

"The main purpose was also to convey an attitude to the public, to let them know that our Second Hospital treats every external complaint with utmost seriousness and will absolutely not engage in the kind of favoritism that outsiders might suspect."

Chief Director Chen Zhenxing frowned. "You've already issued a public announcement?"

"Chief Director, we only contacted that social media person. Later, we also reported the detailed circumstances of the incident," Wang Rongya hurriedly explained.

Vice Director Zheng Huiling, who was in charge of nursing and infection prevention and control, glanced at her with some surprise. This was indeed going too far. Contacting the other party before the matter had been thoroughly investigated essentially implied an admission of fault and could easily be misinterpreted by the public.

"Allow me to say a few words as well," Vice Director Wang Guobin, responsible for the pharmacy department and procurement bidding, spoke up.

"Initially, when I saw the video of this surgery, I was quite amazed. Young people these days are truly remarkable, much better than we were in our time, daring to practice and innovate."

"However, after learning more details, I personally agree with Vice Director Wang's opinion. Regarding the matter of hiring Liu Banxia, we should indeed adopt a cautious attitude."

"Wasn't it mentioned at the last meeting? He even caused a big scene in Pediatrics. Even if he's acting in the patient's best interest, there should be many ways to handle issues. If every problem is met with an argument, what will the hospital become?"

"There are many talented individuals out there. Isn't this Liu Banxia an undergraduate recruited through social hiring? If we make an exception to hire him, wouldn't that be unfair to other doctors? On this point, I maintain my stance."

Zhou Zhiyong sighed inwardly. Just the issue of Liu Banxia's employment was already causing such sharp disagreement. He really didn't know what would happen with the Emergency Department arrangements later.