The Enhanced Doctor

The patient was quite old and had a history of diabetes and high blood pressure. This time, Liu Banxia was the one who performed the closure. Xu Hui, who was witnessing this for the first time, gave him a thumbs-up.

DING! Acquired 100 experience points, 200 skill proficiency points for Suturing, and 100 skill proficiency points for Diagnostics.

Even though it's a bit less, it'll have to do, Liu Banxia thought. The next challenge is how to explain this to the patient's family.

"Brother Xu, let's transfer the patient to your department first. We currently don't have the technical capabilities in the Emergency Department," Liu Banxia said as they left the operating room.

Xu Hui nodded. "I'll go with you to explain to the patient's family."

"It's alright. I'll take responsibility for the situation I created," Liu Banxia replied with a smile.

Xu Hui was very grateful, knowing Liu Banxia didn't want him to get dragged into this difficult situation.

"Which of you are Xu Deyou's family members?" Liu Banxia called out upon reaching the waiting area outside the operating room.

"We are, we are! Is the surgery over already? Or did something go wrong?" the mother and daughter asked as they hurried over.

"Please don't worry yet. After opening the abdomen, we discovered that Xu Deyou might have intestinal tuberculosis. If that's the case, we would only need to proceed with anti-tuberculosis treatment, and there would be no need to remove the right hemicolon," Liu Banxia said, trying his best to put on a gentle smile.

"Clinically, the symptoms of colon cancer and intestinal tuberculosis have many overlaps. If we hadn't discovered significant adhesions after the exploratory laparotomy, we would have proceeded based on a diagnosis of colon cancer."

"What did you say? Are you saying you opened him up only to find out it was a misdiagnosis?" the patient's daughter exclaimed, her voice suddenly sharp and drawing the attention of other families in the waiting area.

"You've misunderstood. We stopped the surgery once we realized something wasn't right. We are now waiting for the latest pathology results," Liu Banxia explained.

"This also cannot be considered our misdiagnosis. As I just mentioned, the clinical manifestations of colon cancer and intestinal tuberculosis have a high degree of overlap. You've seen the CT scans and the colonoscopy report; you can seek a consultation regarding those."

"Another factor is that, clinically, intestinal tuberculosis is more common in young and middle-aged individuals, and more prevalent in women than men. If you still believe our hospital is at fault, I support your decision to report this to the relevant authorities."

"However, I believe our utmost concern right now should be the patient. If it is intestinal tuberculosis, I suggest you both undergo screening as well. This is because the patient might have been infected in his living environment or through contaminated food."

"However, please don't be overly worried. Intestinal tuberculosis is not an open form of tuberculosis and does not require isolation. I am only suggesting you get screened due to these concerns."

"Jingyi, stop making such a fuss," the patient's wife said, patting her daughter's arm. "The doctor is right. Isn't it better if they don't have to remove part of his intestines? It's a part of his body; removing it would only be detrimental."

"Thank you for your understanding, ma'am," Liu Banxia said gratefully. "If I were a family member, I might have the same misunderstanding. After all, not everyone is a doctor. The patient will be under my care shortly, and Dr. Xu Hui, an attending physician from our Internal Medicine Department, will be specifically responsible for his care in the ward."

Just then, the patient was wheeled out, and the mother and daughter no longer paid any attention to Liu Banxia.

"So... does this mean it's over? They won't hold us responsible?" Liang Xiaolin asked curiously.

"It's hard to say; we still need to see the results. However, Xu Hui should be able to arrange a private room for them. Consider it a form of compensation from our side," Liu Banxia said, shaking his head.

Doctor-patient relationships were so tense. If the patient's family was reasonable, things might go smoothly. Otherwise, even when there were no real faults, they might try to find trouble. It wasn't going to be easy.

"I still have to thank you. I was so worried I even called Director Zhou," Liu Banxia said.

Liang Xiaolin glared at him. "Don't be so full of yourself, okay? I was anxious for the patient. I knew you and Director Qin would definitely lock horns, and it's the patient who would suffer from the delay."

After saying that, Liang Xiaolin ignored him and walked straight ahead.

Liu Banxia wasn't annoyed. What's with this girl? Always getting angry for no reason, he wondered.

"Banxia, is everything alright?" Zhou Li asked worriedly as she approached him.

"Has word already spread throughout our Emergency Department?" Liu Banxia asked curiously.

"What was there to spread? A right hemicolectomy that was supposedly done in thirty minutes, and then you rushing out so frantically? It definitely meant something happened," Zhou Li replied.

"Sigh, a patient might have been misdiagnosed. We'll have to wait for the pathology results," Liu Banxia said with a wry smile.

"You've been making quite a stir these past few days, kid," Wei Yuan remarked with a smile.

"Dr. Wei, I'm completely unsettled right now," Liu Banxia replied.

"Come over here, I want to talk to you about something," Wei Yuan said.

Liu Banxia nodded and walked to one side with Wei Yuan.

"Tell me the truth, kid. How determined is the hospital administration about revamping the Emergency Department this time?" Wei Yuan asked.

"Heavens, Brother Wei, do you really think I'm the kind of person who would know such inside information?" Liu Banxia said, exasperated.

"Stop trying to brush me off. I need to hear something definite," Wei Yuan insisted.

"A few days ago, you asked if something was on my mind. I've been thinking about whether I should resign and go to a private hospital. I could earn a little more there, and the work might be a bit easier, but it would be very difficult to improve my professional skills."

Hearing Wei Yuan say this, Liu Banxia felt quite troubled.

DING! Task Issued: Wei Yuan's Choice.

Open Task: Wei Yuan, an attending surgeon in General Surgery, is at a crossroads in his life and needs the Host to help guide him. Task rewards will be distributed based on Wei Yuan's choice.

Seeing this notification, Liu Banxia felt even more troubled. Why do tasks keep popping up all the time?

"Brother Wei, this is just my guess," Liu Banxia said after some thought.

"Let me state upfront, I haven't heard any gossip. You definitely know Dr. Shi's personality better than I do. But I think, since they're even willing to use me as a dedicated doctor in the Emergency Department, it's a signal."

"The hospital is definitely going to make a significant effort to overhaul the Emergency Department, and this effort won't be minor. I am the benchmark for the intensity of this overhaul. So, I believe the future of the Emergency Department won't be bad."

"Let's think about it simply. When the hospital administration starts something, can they really afford for it to start with a bang and end with a whimper? No matter what, they have to show some results."

"However, this concerns your future, so you still have to make the decision yourself. As for me, as long as I have a job to feed myself, I don't really have the luxury of choice."

Wei Yuan nodded and patted Liu Banxia firmly on the shoulder. "Alright. You'll have to take on a bit more today. My mind hasn't been very steady these past couple of days."

"Brother Wei, don't mention it. Just leave it to me," Liu Banxia readily agreed.

Whether Wei Yuan decided to stay or leave, he was someone who had helped him. Could such a small request even be called a request? No problem at all, Liu Banxia thought.