014 I accept my punishment, but I have no regrets

(Thanks to my friend Kōng Xū Jì Mò Lěng 671112 for the reward and encouragement)

"Boss, did you get notified too? Could it have implicated you as well?"

Seeing Shi Lei waiting for him at a distance, Liu Banxia asked with some concern.

Shi Lei patted his shoulder, "It's fine, just be sincere. There are probably people from the hospital office, but don't worry, I'm here."

Listening to Shi Lei's words, Liu Banxia felt a lot more at ease.

When he arrived at the small conference room on the 8th floor of the main building and saw the people inside, Liu Banxia was truly frightened.

The person sitting in the center was Zhou Zhiyong, the deputy chief director in charge of scientific research and teaching at the second hospital. Sitting next to him were three people: one was Qin Hai, whom he knew, another was Director Zhou, whom he had just recently parted with, and the last person was a middle-aged man with glasses whom he did not recognize.

What was this big shot here for? Could it be that Old Qin had set him up? After all, his residency training counted as a teaching task for the hospital. With Zhou Shuwen here, were they planning to take him down today?

"Chief Director Zhou, everyone is here, can I briefly introduce the situation first?" Qin Hai spoke up.

Zhou Zhiyong smiled and nodded, "Old Qin, go ahead."

"Let me state first, I have no personal issue with Liu Banxia, I am merely discussing the matter itself." As soon as Qin Hai began speaking, he took the moral high ground.

"Today's effort by Liu Banxia to save the fetus in the patient's womb is commendable and should be affirmed. However, just as there are laws in the country and rules in the family, we also have corresponding management systems at our second hospital. These systems were introduced to prevent dangerous situations from occurring."

"Liu Banxia, in the absence of a chief physician, took it upon himself to decide to perform a cesarean section on the patient. Even though the result was good, we must also consider the serious consequences that could have ensued."

"If every resident doctor in our second hospital were as bold as him, what would our second hospital become? How many medical disputes might arise in the future? Therefore, I suggest suspending Liu Banxia's medical qualification."

After speaking, Qin Hai glanced at Liu Banxia.

Shi Lei frowned tightly, now entirely aware that Qin Hai was determined to ruin Liu Banxia. If the second hospital really punished Liu Banxia, it would be recorded in his file. Which hospital would dare accept him then? His career would be entirely destroyed.

Just as he was about to stand up and speak for Liu Banxia, Liu Banxia grabbed his arm and slowly stood up himself. As he stood, he captured everyone's attention.

"Leaders, I fully accept Director Qin's criticism. Here, I also wish to make a deep apology." Liu Banxia said slowly.

Qin Hai frowned, wondering why the situation was not going as he expected. Normally, Liu Banxia should defend himself, which would provide another opportunity to criticize him.

The reason for inviting Zhou Zhiyong wasn't solely because he was the deputy director in charge of teaching; the more profound reason was that he was Zhou Shuwen's uncle.

Liu Banxia was a general surgery resident doctor. Even if Zhou Shuwen wanted to protect him, his uncle couldn't do that, so Liu Banxia would naturally be removed.

"In fact, the mistake I made today wasn't just this one; while admitting patient Liu Liyou, I committed another serious mistake," Liu Banxia continued.

Upon his words, Zhou Shuwen smirked slightly, while Qin Hai furrowed his brows, sensing something ominous.

"I was misled by the appearance of liver cirrhosis in patient Liu Liyou. After fellow second-year resident Qi Wentai admitted the patient, I failed to check the lab reports in time, nearly causing an accident and creating a loss for the hospital," Liu Banxia said earnestly.

"Chief Director Zhou..." Qin Hai could no longer stay silent.

"Director Qin, I want to thank you." Liu Banxia interrupted him directly.

"Had Director Qin not quickly assigned patient Liu Liyou to Qi Wentai, perhaps following my habitual thinking might have indeed endangered Liu Liyou's life."

"Director Zhou, maybe my medical career will soon end. May I ask a presumptuous question: have the results for Liu Liyou's tests come out? Is his iron deposition severe? Is it genetic or acquired?"

Zhou Shuwen set down his tea cup, "Your judgment at the time was very accurate. The iron deposition in patient Liu Liyou became severe following abdominal fluid drainage. Had you not acted promptly, the most likely outcome for Liu Liyou would have been death during the drainage process. Tests showed that more iron is deposited in the heart, with the presence of granular blood clots."

"His iron deposition is genetic. After this incident, not only has the relationship between him and his father improved significantly, but Liu Liyou is also grateful for your life-saving efforts."

After finishing, Zhou Shuwen picked up his cup and continued drinking.

Qin Hai was seething with frustration, not expecting Liu Banxia to mention this cleverly and drag Qi Wentai into it as well.

"Liu Banxia, I reviewed your work record and found that you've spent significantly more time in the emergency department than other resident doctors. Also, for the patient with an ankle sprain you treated today, why did you order an enhanced abdominal CT scan?" said the middle-aged man with glasses, smiling.

"Leader, it's actually because I'm quite foolish and can only start with the basics. I'm still some distance from becoming a self-sufficient surgeon, so I need to use my limited time in the field to learn diligently." Liu Banxia said solemnly.

"The patient was named Wang Mingxing. Considering his eye jaundice, rapid weight loss recently, and his mother's history of breast cancer, I made this judgment. I felt a standard CT might not detect the issue, thus only wasting money."

"Now I somewhat regret it, as I should have thought more as Director Qin suggested, to avoid misunderstandings of overtreatment. Here, I want to once again thank Director Qin."

Qin Hai's face turned the color of pig liver; this Liu Banxia was indeed troublesome, always slyly throwing jabs. But in front of Zhou Zhiyong, there wasn't much he could say. The development of today's matters had already sidetracked from the beginning, seeming wrong in some way.

"Leaders, Liu Banxia is a resident doctor I have mentored. In the seven months and thirteen days of my interaction with him, I have greatly affirmed his work." At this moment, Shi Lei also stood up.

"Our second hospital is accountable; since he is a resident doctor I have mentored, I request a penalty equal to Liu Banxia's. I need to be accountable for the resident doctor I mentored."

Zhou Shuwen glared at him, but Shi Lei didn't care. This was what he truly believed; Qin Hai was too oppressive.

Liu Banxia felt deeply moved, unexpectedly supported so strongly by the straightforward Shi Lei.

"Shi Lei, what we are discussing now are the relevant rules and regulations of the second hospital; our focus isn't on the punishment itself." Qin Hai said gravely.

He had to steer the topic back, or else the one humiliated today would be him.

"Liu Banxia, do you have anything to say about today's matter?" Zhou Zhiyong glanced at Liu Banxia and asked calmly.

"Leader, I accept the penalty, but I have no regrets," Liu Banxia replied softly.

"I've also heard the critiques saying that I was showing off just to perform a cesarean section. Yet all I thought about at the time was that tiny life. I may not become an excellent doctor, but I must live up to this white coat I wear."

Hearing Liu Banxia's words, Zhou Shuwen gave him an approving look. This was indeed the core issue: saving might not ensure life, but not saving certainly means death. In the face of life and death, is it sensible to overly consider various rules and regulations?

"Assistant Sun, what is your view on this matter?" After a moment of silence, Zhou Zhiyong looked at the middle-aged man with glasses.

Sun Changhe adjusted his glasses, understanding that Zhou Zhiyong was pushing this difficult issue towards him. So to curry favor with him, he said, "Director Qin's starting point was good and should be referenced. However, I believe we should address each case in its context. Given the situation at the time, Liu Banxia's handling was appropriate."

Hearing this, Liu Banxia let out a long sigh of relief.