Chapter 39

Life is not like a lamp, which has only two states: on and off; nor is it like a switch, which has only two positions: open and closed. Determining whether life has ended is crucial for doctors, but it is also extremely difficult. Whether using the cessation of heartbeat or brain death, it is not always foolproof.

There have been instances where people declared dead have come back to life, which is something ordinary people find extremely hard to accept. A mistake in determining life and death is an error that cannot be forgiven. However, for emergency doctors, even with the utmost caution, a slight error, or even no error at all, can lead to such situations. Therefore, any competent doctor will be extremely cautious when making such a judgment, but even so, mistakes still happen.

The "White Lady" that He Xuedong mentioned happened several years ago. At that time, the hospital's criteria for determining whether a patient was alive or dead were the cessation of heartbeat and breathing. However, relying solely on these two criteria often led to errors. Even now, with the use of instruments to detect brain activity, which mainly focuses on the activity of the cerebral cortex, it is still difficult to guarantee 100% accuracy. This can easily lead to misdiagnosis.

The "White Lady" was a very beautiful woman who had accidentally fallen into the water. When she was brought to the emergency room, she had no heartbeat. The emergency team worked for over forty minutes but could not restore her heartbeat or spontaneous breathing, so they declared her dead. However, that night, she woke up in the morgue, scaring the interns who were transporting the body half to death. But the woman, upon seeing other bodies, was so frightened that she died again. Another attempt to resuscitate her was unsuccessful.

The hospital naturally could not escape responsibility. The head of the emergency department retired early due to this incident, and the on-duty doctor was transferred to the pharmacy. Director Cheng took over as the head of the emergency department at that time.

He Xiaokang was one of the interns who transported the body. The memory was extremely vivid. The woman was truly beautiful, and because "New Legend of White Snake" was popular at the time, the interns gave her the nickname "White Lady."

Whenever he talked about this incident, He Xiaokang would shudder.

The group chatted and laughed, then began their work for the day.

When Qin Chuan walked past Yao Sihai's bed, Yao Sihai looked up at him. But when Qin Chuan's gaze met his, Yao Sihai immediately turned his body to face away from Qin Chuan.

"Doctor Qin, don't blame him. If there were any other way, who would want to be like this? We all want to go back home. But our children, sigh! Raising children to support us in old age, but when we are truly old, even if we raise them, it's no use." Wang Yuezhen, an old patient in the emergency department, had been there for several years. Her children, unlike Yao Sihai's, did not ignore her, but they were willing to take her home. They only came to pay her medical bills on schedule each month.

"Grandma Wang, do you know about his family situation?" Qin Chuan pulled a chair over to Wang Yuezhen's bed and sat down.

"I know a little, but not much." Wang Yuezhen glanced at Yao Sihai.

"Does he have any family?" Qin Chuan also looked back at Yao Sihai. Yao Sihai covered himself with a slightly black blanket and buried his head in it, the blanket trembling slightly.

Wang Yuezhen glanced at Yao Sihai's bed and lowered her voice, "He seems to have two sons, but they are not his biological children. They both went to university and are now working. How can people be so heartless? Even though they are not his biological children, they were raised by Old Yao, who fed them and sent them to university. Now that Old Yao is sick, they haven't even come to see him. Old Yao has no job and supported them by collecting scrap. Who would have thought that when Old Yao fell ill, neither of his sons would come to see him. Do you think people's hearts are made of flesh?"

Qin Chuan sighed. He was a doctor, not a savior. "Grandma Wang, how is your condition?"

"Thanks to the medicine you gave me that day, I feel much better. Actually, it doesn't matter if I don't feel well. This illness can't be cured, so I'm just waiting for the last day to come." Tears welled up in Wang Yuezhen's eyes.

"Grandma Wang, don't think too much. Everything will get better. Your children will eventually understand. They are parents too, and they will realize it sooner or later." Qin Chuan had no better way to comfort Wang Yuezhen.

"Doctor Qin, don't worry about me. I've lived long enough." Wang Yuezhen managed a weak smile.

When Qin Chuan transferred an emergency patient to the respiratory department, he encountered Zhang Rong's daughter, Ji Xia. Ji Xia was arguing with her boyfriend, Luo Haocheng. Ji Xia was very emotional.

"Ji Xia, please forgive me?" Luo Haocheng pleaded.

"How can I forgive you? My mother raised me with great hardship, and I almost killed her. I didn't ask you to take money from your family; I just wanted to use the money I earned to treat my mother. Your family was so heartless." Ji Xia forcefully pulled her hand away from Luo Haocheng.

"Ji Xia, I have no objections to treating your mother. My parents are just worried about our wedding being delayed. They didn't mean anything else." Luo Haocheng quickly defended himself.

"Luo Haocheng, I don't want to argue with you. Winning the argument means nothing. From that day on, we have nothing to do with each other. You are not worth my life. I don't need anything from you." Ji Xia's stance was firm.

Qin Chuan glanced at them and prepared to leave.

"Doctor Qin." Ji Xia saw Qin Chuan and quickly ran over.

Qin Chuan touched his nose, "It's you. Why are you arguing here?"

"Let's not talk about it. Doctor Qin, thank you. You've saved my mother twice. I've always wanted to thank you, but my mother's condition has been unstable, and I have to work in Xingsha." Ji Xia said.

"Don't mention it. It's our duty as doctors."

"Although it's a small matter for you, my mother is everything to me. This time, it's not all bad; it has made me see many things." Ji Xia didn't even look at Luo Haocheng, treating him like a stranger.

Luo Haocheng was embarrassed but kept staring at them.

"Talk it out. You can always clear things up." Qin Chuan glanced at Luo Haocheng.

Luo Haocheng then walked over, "Doctor Qin, thank you so much."

"Don't mention it. Take your time to talk things out." Qin Chuan felt it was best to leave this是非之地 (place of conflict) quickly.

"Doctor Qin, do you have any good suggestions for my mother's condition?" Ji Xia wanted some professional advice and trusted Qin Chuan, who had saved her twice.

"What can I say? It's best to consult the attending doctor. They are the experts. Pulmonary embolism is a complicated condition, and there are no particularly effective treatments. It can only be managed over time. Every doctor will do their best to treat the patient." Qin Chuan didn't want to say too much.

Patients' families often ask multiple doctors, not because they don't trust the doctors, but for peace of mind.

"Ji Xia, can we talk properly?" Luo Haocheng couldn't help but ask.

"There's nothing to talk about. Things have come to this, do you think we can go back to the way it was?" Ji Xia shook her head firmly.

"Take your time to talk. I have patients to attend to." Qin Chuan didn't want to get involved in the family affairs of patients.

"Doctor Qin, do you have time for lunch? I want to treat you to a meal. I've always wanted to thank you, but I haven't had the chance." Ji Xia ignored Luo Haocheng.

"No, we have a rule in the hospital that doctors cannot accept meals." Qin Chuan quickly refused.

"I don't have any other intentions; I just want to thank you." Ji Xia explained.

"I appreciate your understanding of our work. But there's no need for a meal." Qin Chuan quickly said goodbye and left.

Gao Zhanting took leave and rushed to her aunt's house in Xingsha.

Before leaving, she called Jia Chunpeng, "Chunpeng, my aunt is not feeling well today. Can you come with me?"

Gao Zhanting knew Jia Chunpeng wouldn't go, but she wanted to see his true colors again.

"Wife, what a coincidence. The company has a very important business matter that I need to handle personally. Why don't you go first, and I'll come over after I finish?" Jia Chunpeng found an excuse to avoid it.

"If you're busy, don't come. My aunt should be fine." Gao Zhanting seemed very understanding.

"Wife, I'm really sorry. I really wanted to go with you, but I've been very busy lately and might have neglected you. But once this busy period is over, I'll make it up to you."

If Gao Zhanting hadn't already seen Jia Chunpeng's true nature, she would have been moved to tears by his words. But now, it felt like swallowing a fly.

"Okay." Gao Zhanting quickly hung up the phone, as she was afraid that if she continued listening, she would lose control and start cursing.