The Returning Doctor Wanted to Live Quietly - Chapter 308



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Episode 308. Vice Resident (4)

Professor Park Woon-hyeok’s office, which I visited for the first time.

The bookshelf, which looked larger than the others, was packed with books.

The space where the sofa was placed, which served as a living room, was, on the contrary, extremely cramped.

“I wonder if I interrupted you… … .”

“What’s the bother? I’m fine. What do you think? I decorated it as a study. It’s my own study.”

“The smell of books is better than I thought.”

“Books, you know. You have to read them diligently. Studying never ends. Oh, by the way, just come and visit me. Why did you call me again?”

“It’s late, so I assumed you’d be home.”

“What about the house? I should go in at this hour. It’s Samsik’s treatment, Samsik’s treatment.”

Although he said that, it was clear that Park Woon-hyeok stayed behind because of his studies.

Although he could be called a senior professor, he was still passionate enough not to put down his books.

While savoring the omija tea he offered, Jinhyeok looked at Park Woonhyeok.

Gray hair.

A kind smile.

Even though a lot of time had passed, the expression on his face was the same as when I saw him during the interview.

‘If it weren’t for the professor, I would have failed.’

Oh In-ji was angry at Han Dong-soo’s words that he would make a choice for the patient.

Thanks to Professor Park Woon-hyeok’s protection, I was able to come to Asin Hospital.

“Yeah, you said Park Seon-jeong? Is it serious?”

“Yes, he asked me back if I knew who he was. After finding out, he became depressed. I think it was because of his retirement due to injury.”

“Injured?”

“There seems to be a problem with your hand… … .”

The explanation went on for a long time.

Park Woon-hyeok clicked his tongue.

You can’t put water in a tilted dish.

It was difficult for doctors to help patients whose minds were twisted.

“Your heart and body hurt? You’re probably missing the past.”

“I think I was self-harming because of my sense of loss. From smoking to drinking. Irregular meals. It felt like I was deliberately ruining my body.”

“The more successful someone was, the greater the sense of loss.”

As Park Woon-hyeok nodded in agreement, Jin-hyeok began to list her condition one by one.

One could say that he had a good memory, but other doctors had the same level of memory.

Because they are people who became doctors with their innate memory skills and butt strength.

The problem is that Park Woon-hyeok, who had been quietly listening to the symptoms, shook his head.

“Exercise-induced dyspnea (difficulty breathing when unconscious)? Well, I don’t think so.”

“Yes? But the objective figures are… … .”

“Has it been verified? Has it come out clearly?”

“According to the pulmonary function test, ah… … .”

At that moment, Jinhyuk’s words became vague.

Because one assumption came to mind.

“Yeah, it’s too early. Only 33, no family history.”

“You think I was joking. You want attention.”

“That too. Pulmonary function test. That’s really hard. Inhalation. Exhalation. Well, holding it in until the end. I mean, there are a lot of people who have a hard time with that. They just do it roughly. That’s all.”

“Then, MBS (Modified Borg Scale, one of the breathing tests) was also intentionally… … .”

“MBS also asks about subjective feelings, so I might have answered too much. I might have missed the attention. Of course, it might have been really hard to breathe.”

“yes?”

A statement that doesn’t make sense.

Jinhyuk tilted his head.

Like Professor Seo Sang-soo, Professor Park Un-hyeok also had a strange habit of speaking in a way that made him seem like he knew something but didn’t.

When Jinhyeok couldn’t figure it out, Park Woonhyeok laughed.

“I saw an interesting paper. He was a perfectly healthy patient. He was a very healthy young man.”

“yes.”

“But this guy has severe hypochondria. It’s a very serious condition.”

“… … .”

“Well, both my father and grandfather died of lung cancer. Anyway, this guy also had dyspnea due to old age. Well, it was a misdiagnosis. Anxiety, stress, depression, panic disorder, things like that. The mind affected the body.”

Unless it’s a bluff to get attention.

Park Seon-jeong may have also complained of difficulty breathing due to psychological factors.

Jinhyuk, who had not personally tested the results but had only received them, bit his lip.

okay.

Maybe Professor Park Woon-hyeok’s words were right.

Aren’t panic attacks caused by psychological factors?

“This guy. No, this teacher.”

“Yes, professor.”

“A truly depressed person, you know. They don’t talk. They just die quietly. Where there’s no one. Plunge! They just die.”

“… … !”

“Birthday is a day of lament. There is nothing better than not being born. I say this because I want to live. I want to live.”

* * *

The resident lounge is back.

I had to sleep, but I had to practice with Jang Hyuk-jun for a long time.

Of course, what each person wanted was different.

Jang Hyuk-jun is a drinker.

He has the sense that a surgeon should have.

So, I wanted to know if it was appropriate and if it was enough, like thoracic surgery.

So, although it was unlikely to help, teaching is also learning.

On the contrary, there were many cases where my thoughts became more organized, so it wasn’t a bad thing.

So the next day.

Jinhyeok, who finished the free round, checked the data from Samseon Hospital.

But when the expected medical records were not visible, Jinhyeok tilted his head.

‘Is this all? This is strange?’

“Mr. Bae, is this all?”

“yes?”

“There is no orthopedic surgery?”

“Orthopaedic surgery? I checked separately to make sure nothing was missing. There were no records of orthopaedic surgery.”

“okay?”

“Yes, why are you suddenly like that, orthopedic surgeon… … .”

Why do you ask a hand surgeon who performs microscopic nerve surgery on the hand and wrist?

Jinhyuk whetted his appetite.

“I think it’s because I retired because of my hands.”

“Because of the hand? I looked up some articles. The reason for retirement wasn’t mentioned.”

“Well, you probably didn’t want to reveal it. You must have received treatment. First of all, it wasn’t a three-line treatment. Did you receive it at another hospital?”

“I’ll check it right after the conference.”

“Don’t ask the person involved. Call back right away. I’m in a hurry. I have six surgeries right now. Six.”

“But right now, you’re probably busy too. It’s time for the pre-round.”

Baesungman twisted his body around with a sad expression on his face.

Even if you call, you’ll just get yelled at for calling at this hour with no common sense.

It seemed like he thought that rather than getting the medical records he wanted, he would just get cursed at.

Then Jinhyuk took out his cell phone.

He himself was the one who brought about improvements in treatment in the surgical field.

I thought there would be no one who would pretend not to know.

“Ugh. Senior. Not now. Seriously, not now.”

“Quiet! Be quiet!”

Click.

“Hi, I am Jinhyeok Lee, a surgical resident at Asin Hospital. I am calling to ask for a copy of the medical records. The patient’s name is Seonjeong Park, and her resident registration number is… … .”

[No, wait, wait. Do you know what time it is? It’s really busy, huh?? Who did you say just now?]

“This is surgical resident Jinhyeok Lee. I’m sorry I contacted you in a hurry.”

[Oh, who am I? Just hearing your voice is nice. I should meet you sometime. You said you were Park Seon-jeong, right? I’ll send it to you right away.]

“Yes, I may not have any medical records. Could you please help me with that?”

Dduk.

After hanging up the phone, Jinhyuk started calling other hospitals.

Seoundae, Cebu Rance, Catholic.

I’m calling not only the Big 5, but also all the large hospitals in Seoul that have a thoracic surgery department.

After a while like that.

As the faxes started pouring in, Bae Seong-man opened his mouth wide.

The busiest time.

So, before the professors made their rounds, all the hospitals were cooperating.

* * *

Elective surgery.

So-called regular surgery.

Although it was a schedule set a long time ago, there were rare cases where it was canceled.

That is when a patient or guardian who had decided to undergo surgery with difficulty changes their mind.

This happens when you choose to end your life as is rather than forcibly undergo surgery.

Because the patient was in his 90s, persuasion was difficult.

Jinhyeok, who suddenly had some free time, immediately went out to find Park Seonjeong.

Of course, to be honest, I was tired.

She’s not the only patient.

Since there are separate attending physicians and designated physicians, I could have just ignored it.

but.

‘He was the one who said that Sisyphus would be happy.’

I wanted to turn her around, because she said the same thing as Professor Seo Sang-soo.

Maybe her fate will change like Choi Ye-rin’s.

The hospital room we arrived at like that.

Unfortunately, there was a passenger.

“hello.”

“Oh, of all things.”

“yes?”

“Oh, okay. Okay. More importantly, patient. Could you please sign?”

A respiratory medicine resident who is openly showing signs of discomfort.

It was clear that Oh Tae-sang was one of those people who believed that there was no reason why he would make such an expose.

Anyway, since there were passengers, Jinhyuk waited for his turn in silence with his arms crossed.

“Can I put it here?”

“Yes, thank you for the autograph. By the way, is your breathing okay?”

“It’s still a bit like that.”

“I’ll take a look for you now. That’s what I came here for anyway.”

“Well, that’s okay too.”

Park Seon-jeong shows a let-it-be-or-be-it attitude.

I liked the way he recognized me and even asked for my autograph.

It seemed as if he was suddenly depressed, which was almost a serious problem.

Although the sight was breathtaking, and I also felt sorry for how it came to be like that, one thing was certain.

‘Your breathing is so fine?’

Professor Park Woon-hyeok mentioned the possibility that it could be fake, but also said that it could be real.

It doesn’t look like a patient with breathing difficulties.

If so, it would be clear that he was trying to attract attention.

The moment Jinhyeok was about to check this, Park Seonjeong asked the respiratory medicine resident an unexpected question.

“But is Mr. Lee Jin-hyeok a real genius?”

“yes?”

“No, I heard he’s famous for being a genius.”

“What about genius? We were all geniuses. We were always first in school.”

“is it so?”

“Yes, that’s true. These days, marketing is important even for hospitals. Well, you can’t help it if you want to make money. You know that marketing is important.”

When Park Seon-jeong nodded quietly, Jin-hyeok, who was trying to talk to her, looked dumbfounded.

Well, Park Seon-jeong could do that.

She was famous as a genius violinist.

There was no way I didn’t know how important self-PR and marketing were.

But what on earth is that guy talking about when he stands in front of people and says out loud that it’s a product of marketing?

He was trying to destroy the rapport that had been built up.

Oh, right.

I wanted to live quietly.

“I’ll just withdraw my cooperation. I think you can go back.”

Jinhyuk steps in to stop the respiratory medicine resident.

* * *

The department that requested collaboration with the respiratory medicine department was general surgery.

So, to say that I could go back now was like saying something precious.

You don’t need me, so get out.

Well, that’s what it means.

The respiratory medicine resident blushed immediately.

“You were the one who notified me of external dyspnea (difficulty breathing due to exertion).”

“I think there was a mistake.”

“What’s the mistake? I checked the chart. The lung function test results. The questionnaire results. They’re all clear.”

“No. I told you it was a mistake.”

“Ha, really. The patient. Did you see that? He’s a fool who doesn’t know what’s up or down and is just running wild, saying he’s a genius. What about a genius? Don’t be fooled by marketing.”

A trick to get even the patient on my side.

I couldn’t just sit by and watch that behavior.

“Can’t we just see who’s right? I’ve decided that it’s not Dysnia.”

“Ha. What are you going to do with the patient in front of you? This is really not funny.”

“Then you can just go. It’s under our department’s jurisdiction anyway.”

“No, how can you ask for cooperation and then have something like this happen?”

Why isn’t there any?

The order changes several times depending on the patient’s condition.

Just as Jinhyuk was about to refute.

Park Seon-jeong came forward.

“I wonder who is right?”

* * *

Jinhyuk didn’t know why he was curious.

In any case, this is the situation that patient Park Seon-jeong wants.

Jinhyuk immediately approached and asked.

“You said you had trouble breathing.”

“Yes, I’m out of breath.”

“Do you find it difficult when you sit down? Do you find it difficult when you lie down?”

“When I was lying down.”

“Really? Is it really hard for you to lie down?”

Jinhyuk tilted his head as if he was acting.

Of course, this is a very exaggerated gesture.

“Why? Is there a problem?”

“Yes, there is a problem.”

“… … ?”

“Last time, you said you had a hard time sitting down. Oh, of course, you didn’t say that to me. You said that to your doctor.”

“Oh, that.”

“Wait a minute, let me check.”

Jinhyuk cut her off and took out his stethoscope.

From the left chest.

Right chest again.

Jinhyuk said after quickly finishing the examination.

“I’m not even obese.”

“Obesity, of course not.”

“Then, you’re saying that it’s not a decrease in diaphragmatic function due to weight gain? And you don’t have reflux esophagitis either?”

“yes.”

“Well, it’s not an asthma attack. I also looked into the possibility of congestive heart failure, but I don’t think so. I had an EKG this morning. It came back normal.”

“hmm.”

“But why did you say you had trouble breathing when you were lying down? Oh, you changed your words and said it was hard when you were standing up.”

It’s hard to believe that there is such a thing as orthopnea (difficulty breathing when lying down).

Park Seon-jeong didn’t understand, but the respiratory medicine resident’s expression hardened.

Because the patient changed his words and confused it with platypnea (difficulty breathing when standing up).

“If you feel short of breath when you stand up, it’s usually because there’s a myxoma in the left atrium or the mitral valve is blocked. But that’s not it either.”

“… … .”

“I’m going to take your blood pressure for a moment.”

Jinhyeok immediately put the cuffs around Park Seonjeong’s arm.

A decrease in systolic blood pressure when inhaling.

So, the Pulsusparadoxus showed that it was not visible.

Now all that’s left is cyanosis.

I saw it once last time, but as expected, only short fingernails were visible and there were no blue discolored areas.

“There are no heart murmurs. The jugular veins are not enlarged. The liver is not enlarged. There are no dull sounds. There are no crackles.”

As Jinhyeok turned his head after saying that, the respiratory medicine resident immediately asked him a question.

“I thought you had a lung problem because of the edema. The pulmonary function test was also a long time ago. The results from the questionnaire were similar.”

“That’s true. Haven’t the additional test results come out yet? What is your saturation now?”

“I know it’s high, but I still need to get it checked.”

“What if Platypnea and Orthopnea occur at the same time?”

“Well, the mechanism is different, but it could be possible.”

“The saturation (oxygen saturation) is this high?”

The respiratory medicine resident shook his head in response to Jinhyeok’s rebuttal.

A situation where only an electrocardiogram was taken.

Anything that can affect the lungs can also affect the heart.

His choice was ultimately limited to one.

“Let’s start with a coronary CT scan.”

“Well, that’s fine. But, more than that.”

“… … ?”

“Hey, patient. If I win, you’ll do as I say, right? I’m a bigger fan, but I’d like something other than an autograph.”

“Well, that’s right. Well.”

She nodded immediately.

Now, all you have to do is get a coronary CT scan to reveal the malingering, send the internal medicine resident out, and then you can do whatever you want.

The end was in sight.

.