"Dr. Zhang, is there really nothing you can do for my husband?"
In the ergency surgery consultation room, an elderly couple sat blankly opposite Zhang Tiesheng.
Zhang Tiesheng was carefully reviewing the scans together with Lu Cheng. After so pointing at the computer, Lu Cheng shook his head.
Zhang Tiesheng then said, "Sir, the lesion on your liver is too large for us to handle here."
"You might try visiting the outpatient clinic and consult with a general surgery doctor after the holiday."
"But I strongly suggest you call your son or daughter soon and have them take you to the State Hospital or Xiangya for a check-up."
The two elders were silent for a mont before the elderly man, whose head was slightly small and hair curled white, suddenly said, "Let's stop looking and head ho."
But as he spoke, it seed to cause a shift in abdominal pressure, resulting in the elder's brow tightening, furrowing deeper.
The elderly lady was sowhat distressed: "Doctor, even if there's no cure, you could at least prescribe sothing for the pain. He hasn't slept in nearly two days, he's been in constant pain..."
"And the leg here hurts too."
The elderly lady was plump, but the old man was frail, with his left leg clearly shorter than his right and his hip joint in a deford position.
Zhang Tiesheng said, "It's pointless. The painkillers I can prescribe won't alleviate this kind of pain."
"The effective painkillers aren't available here in the ergency departnt; you need to go to the oncology departnt. We don't have an oncology departnt in the county, so these drugs aren't accessible."
"That's how it's regulated above. We can't do anything about it."
"You should have co earlier; now it's dragged out to this point..."
Zhang Tiesheng quickly finished writing the dical record and handed it back to them: "We can't treat you here, hurry and call your kids."
"Go to the hospitals in the State or Province as soon as possible to find a solution."
Lu Cheng happened to be in the consultation room when the elderly couple ca in, so he stayed.
Of course, Lu Cheng didn't dare to speak.
The elder had a huge tumor about ten centiters on the hepatic side lobe, adherent to the surrounding mucosa, clearly malignant.
In this situation, probably even Professor Chen Song wouldn't be able to handle it. This isn't an ergency case; it's classified as a huge tumor requiring attention from either the oncology or general surgery departnt.
The elderly man explained, "It's beyond treatnt, you heard it yourself. I'm getting on in years; what's the point of going so far?"
"If the county could handle it, they would. If not, then it's just fate." The elderly man attempted to stand with his cane.
The elderly lady reluctantly pressed him down again, looking at Zhang Tiesheng: "Doctor, please help us think of a way."
"Easing the pain would be good enough."
Zhang Tiesheng flipped his hand: "I can't help. I don't have the authority to prescribe pain relief for your condition."
"These types of painkillers are controlled substances, only the oncology and anesthesiology departnts can prescribe them, and our hospital doesn't have the authorization."
"I've told you, call your kids and have them take you to get checked elsewhere; that's the best solution."
The strongest painkiller the ergency departnt can offer is a muscle injection of tramadol hydrochloride, which isn't very effective for tumor pain.
Even if effective, it's temporary, and doesn't address the patient's issues.
"They're all busy, working outside and can't co back. If they did, the household wouldn't survive financially." The elderly lady explained.
"My eldest has three kids, and barely manages to scrape together living expenses."
"There's no money to go out for dical treatnt."
The old couple's attire was very plain; although not patchy, it was clothes washed many tis from ordinary brands.
Judging by the style and fit, they were likely hand--downs from young people.
"Then there's really nothing I can do." Zhang Tiesheng spread his hands.
Even though lack of money isn't an absolute contraindication dostically, the healthcare costs in the country operate on a parallel system of insurance and out-of-pocket expenses.
This is sothing beyond Zhang Tiesheng's control.
The elderly lady helped the old man to the door, limping with a cane, their hunched backs radiating helplessness.
Zhang Tiesheng yawned: "Xiao Lu, it's not too early, go take a lunch break."
"You're on a 24-hour surgery shift today, if patients arrive later, you might not get any rest."
Lu Cheng quickly sorted through the emotional ripple the elderly couple left behind: "Okay, Brother Zhang, I'll go check on the patients and call if anything happens."
Zhang Tiesheng glanced at Lu Cheng unexpectedly: "You're still going to look?"
"The patients assigned to your care are unlucky, probably won't have a chance to make an escape overnight."
Making an escape overnight ans trying not to pay the fees and sneaking away in the middle of the night.
Lu Cheng picked up on Zhang Tiesheng's teasing, but didn't mind: "I'll check again, that young man's amputation, he didn't listen to advice and had one yesterday."
"If it goes necrotic, it'll be a pity."
Zhang Tiesheng actually understood the young man but continued to grumble: "If he wants to ss up, we can only respect his fate."
Smoking on the third day post-surgery for limb replantation? Not even gods can save him!~
Lu Cheng walked out of the ergency surgery consultation room—
Just then, Dr. Han Rong was picking up her father to go ho. Her elder brother was also there.
"Dr. Lu, good afternoon. Have you had lunch yet?" Han Rong greeted Lu Cheng upon seeing him.
As Lu Cheng paused, Han Rong's brother, Han Pingxiao, ca forward to shake hands with Lu Cheng: "Brother Lu, you've worked hard!~"
User Comments
0 comments from readers