There was a patient who suffered from hemiplegia and couldn’t be cured anywhere in the country. I traveled two thousand kilometers to perform an operation on him.
Unexpectedly, on the day he was discharged from the hospital, he invited media reporters and publicly reported that I had accepted a flying – knife fee.
Although all my procedures were compliant, in order to quell public opinion, my superiors still demoted me.
Coincidentally, a year later, this patient got sick again, with the same illness.
I was the only one in the country who could treat it.
1
“Teacher Lin, it’s time for ward rounds.”
At eight o’clock in the morning, the new intern doctor Liu timidly came to remind me.
“Okay!”
I nodded and got up to walk out of the office.
In the corridor, seven or eight medical school interns followed me and started the ward rounds.
“How are you feeling today? Have you had any headache symptoms?”
“Family members must pay attention to the patient’s diet, mainly light, and avoid greasy and spicy food.”
“The postoperative recovery is good. Keep a happy mood.”
…
I carefully observed the condition of each patient in the ward and gave instructions to the family members accompanying the patients.
“Doctor Lin, my husband he…”
“Doctor Lin, my father…”
“Doctor Lin…”
After checking each ward, family members would gather around to ask questions.
Some asked when the operation could start, and some asked when they could be discharged from the hospital. These were relatively normal questions.
There were also some family members with wild ideas, asking if their IQs would increase after undergoing an intracranial operation.
Even so, I patiently and carefully answered each family member’s question.
After an hour and a half, the ward rounds ended, and I returned to the office to sort out the medical records.
At ten o’clock, the department director held a meeting.
At half – past ten, I went back to the office to continue studying the medical records.
At eleven forty, I went to the hospital cafeteria for lunch.
At twelve o’clock, I took a lunch break.
At two o’clock, I was on standby and went to various wards as needed by the patients.
At half – past five, I got off work.
This was my current working state, a mix of leisure and busyness, repeating the previous day every day.
“Teacher Lin, such a big shot in the industry, has now fallen to this state. The world is unpredictable!”
“Who says it isn’t? Now I’m even doubting if my choice of becoming a doctor is correct.”
“I’ve heard something about Teacher Lin’s matter. I feel so wronged for him. Isn’t it normal to charge a flying – knife fee? Why is it a sin for him?”
“You underestimate the evil in human nature too much. When they’re sick and need you, they treat you like a grandpa. As soon as they recover, they wish you would call them grandpa.”
“To be fair, Teacher Lin really has a good temper. If it were me, I would have quit long ago.”
“Uh… several senior brothers and sisters, I’m new here. Can I ask what happened to Teacher Lin?”
“I’ll tell you, Teacher Lin he…”
…
The office door was not closed, and several interns who followed me for ward rounds were chatting idly in the corridor.
“Do you have nothing to do? Did you come to the hospital to intern or to gossip?”
“You guys, go to the ward and register the time of the patients’ eating and excretion.”
“You guys, go to the nurse’s station to assist in counting the medication situation in the afternoon. Check and double – check to ensure accuracy!”
I walked to the office door and reprimanded them in a low voice.
The voices in the corridor stopped abruptly. The few interns were stunned for a moment and then ran away.
They disappeared in an instant.
“Kids these days are really daring.”
I shook my head helplessly.
I remembered when I first started interning in the hospital. If I dared to gather and chat in the corridor, I would have been scolded by the teacher until I couldn’t lift my head.
I was about to go to the department meeting when the phone on the table suddenly rang.
“Teacher Lin, please come to the outpatient department!”
2
I put down the notebook in my hand and rushed towards the outpatient building.
My name is Lin Jian, with the character “Jian” meaning healthy.
I’m a doctor in a top – three hospital in a first – tier city.
A year ago, I was still the director of the neurosurgery department.
But because of one operation, I was demoted.
Now I’m just an attending physician in the inpatient department.
On weekdays, I just do ward rounds, teach interns, and don’t even have the qualification to get on the operating table.
My parents are both medical workers. My mother works in the Health Bureau, and my father is an internal medicine doctor.
Growing up in such a family environment, my aspiration was also to become a doctor.
At the age of eighteen, I was admitted to the top medical institution in the country with excellent grades, and then continued my studies for a master’s and a doctor’s degree.
My supervisor is Chen He, a well – known neurosurgery expert in China.
Under his careful guidance, I dedicated myself to the study of medical skills.
At the age of thirty – five, I became the director of the neurosurgery department, enjoyed a special allowance from the State Council, and became a genuine expert.
My specialty is intracranial nerve surgery, and I’m nicknamed “Doctor Lin the One – Cut”.
No matter how complicated the condition is, once the patient is on my operating table, they are more than half recovered.
In the past ten – plus years of my medical career, I have personally performed operations to relieve thousands of patients of their illnesses.
I have also published dozens of papers in internationally renowned medical magazines such as NEJM, LANCET, JAMA, and BMJ.
But just when I thought my life was going smoothly and my future was steadily advancing, an accident knocked me to the bottom.
A year ago, the People’s Hospital of X Province sent me a letter, inviting me to preside over an operation.
The patient was twenty – six years old. Due to intracranial nerve damage, one side of his body had numbness symptoms.
During the illness, the patient visited dozens of hospitals across the country for treatment, but the results were not satisfactory.
The condition not only didn’t improve but became more serious, and it had developed into hemiplegia.
If no effective treatment was carried out, at most half a year later, the patient would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.
In severe cases, it would cause other lesions and endanger his life.
Several large hospitals gave the same treatment plan.
Surgical treatment.
But this kind of intracranial brainstem nerve resection is not common, and not just any neurosurgeon can do it.
A doctor suggested to the patient’s family to invite an expert for a flying – knife operation.
Currently, there are only three people in the world known to be able to perform this operation.
One is Doctor Philip from the Mayo Clinic.
One is my supervisor, Chen He.
And the other is me.
Doctor Philip is elusive. With the patient’s family’s ability, they simply can’t get in touch with him.
And my supervisor, Mr. Chen He, also suffered from Parkinson’s disease three years ago. His hands tremble, and he can no longer perform operations.
The only one in China who can do this operation is me.
The doctor recommended me to the patient’s family.
The patient’s family, through their efforts, finally coordinated with the hospital to send me an invitation to be the main surgeon in a different place.
3
Saving lives is my life – long belief since I was a child. Facing this situation, I naturally wouldn’t refuse.
After confirming the time, I immediately arranged my work and flew to the city where the patient was located, two thousand kilometers away.
Before the operation started, the patient’s mother came to me specially.
“Doctor Lin, please save my son. He’s only twenty – six years old, not married yet. His life has just begun…”
The patient’s mother said, sobbing, and her legs bent as if she was about to kneel down.
“Auntie, don’t worry. I will do my best to treat your son. You also have to have confidence in him!”
I quickly supported the patient’s mother and made a serious promise.
Amid the old lady’s repeated pleas, I entered the operating room.
The preoperative preparations were already in place, and the operation began.
Cutting the scalp, drilling holes, separating the dura mater and the inner bone plate…
Everything was proceeding in an orderly manner.
This process was completed by the patient’s main surgeon.
What I needed to do was, after the skull at the surgical site was completely opened, find the lesion and remove it.
Through the microscope, I quickly found the lesion in the left hemisphere’s somatic motor center of the patient’s brain.
With just one move, the cranial nerve knife successfully removed the lesion.
The whole process took only about one minute.
“Whew!”
I let out a long breath and took a few steps back.
The subsequent cleaning and suturing were still completed by the main surgeon.
The operation took two and a half hours, and my appearance time was only one minute.
But this one minute was the most critical part of the whole operation.
“Doctor Lin, how is my son? How is he?”
The patient’s mother asked worriedly.
There were still dried tears on her face.
“The operation was a success. After the anesthesia wears off, we’ll conduct a systematic examination. If there are no abnormalities, your son will recover soon.”
I held the old lady’s hand, nodded, and said with a smile.
“Thank you, thank you!”
The patient’s mother choked up again.
The postoperative examination results were as I expected. No problems were found.
In two to three weeks, he would gradually recover and start a normal life again.
In my more than ten years of medical practice, I have performed thousands of similar operations.
Whenever I see the tense expressions on the faces of the patient’s family turn into excitement and joy, I also feel gratified.
Isn’t saving lives the bounden duty of a doctor?
Curing a patient, saving a life, also saves a family.
4
I declined the hospital’s invitation, gave some instructions to the patient’s family, then left for the airport and took the return flight.
Before turning off my phone, a prompt popped up. Ten thousand yuan was credited to my bank card.
This money was the flying – knife fee.
The hospital knew about it, the patient’s family knew about it, and the competent department knew about it. Everything was reasonable and compliant, and I took it with a clear conscience.
There were still many things to be busy with in the hospital where I worked. Three to four operations were arranged every week.
Even though I was already used to it, every time I saw the patient lying on the operating table, I still couldn’t help feeling a little sad.
I hope that there will be no diseases in the world, even if the medicine on the shelf gets dusty.
When will this become a reality?
Time passed quickly, and almost a month had passed. One day, just after I finished presiding over the department meeting, Dean Sun called me to his office.
Dean Sun, Office Director Li, and Director He from the Medical Affairs Department were sitting upright.
“Dean Sun, you called me?”
After greeting everyone politely, I looked at Dean Sun and asked.
“Doctor Lin, you sit first!”
Dean Sun nodded and motioned for me to sit down.
I don’t know why, but I always felt that the atmosphere was a bit solemn, as if something bad had happened.
“Doctor Lin, take a look at this first!”
After a moment of silence, Director Li opened the laptop and pushed it in front of me.
It was a live – interview video uploaded to the Internet.
The background of the picture was a hospital ward.
A young patient in a hospital gown was sitting on the bed.
“My name is Huang Yan. I’m twenty – six years old. Half a year ago, due to cranial nerve damage, I had hemiplegia on the right side of my body.”
“During this half – year, my mother took me to seek medical treatment everywhere. Although we found out the cause of the disease, we couldn’t get it treated.”
“Because my condition is special, I need to have an intracranial nerve resection. But none of the hospitals I went to had a doctor who could do this operation.”
“Later, I heard that Doctor Lin Jian, the director of the neurosurgery department of XX Hospital in China, could do this operation.”
“In order to cure my illness, my mother coordinated with the hospital and invited Doctor Lin Jian to perform the operation on me.”
“The operation was successful, and now I’m gradually recovering, but I’m not happy.”
“Over the past half – year, my mother has emptied our family’s savings to treat my illness and borrowed a lot of foreign debt”
“The cost of this operation was 150,000 yuan. To raise this money, we sold the only house in our family.”
“You media people say you speak for the public. Today, in front of the camera, I want to report!”
Probably because he hadn’t fully recovered yet, this patient named Huang Yan looked a bit haggard.
As he spoke, his emotions suddenly became agitated.
He mentioned my name, and at the same time, I searched in my memory.
Finally, I remembered. Wasn’t he the patient I went to the People’s Hospital of X Province to perform a flying – knife operation on?
5
“Mr. Huang, the media is here to speak for the public. If you’ve encountered any unfair treatment, feel free to say it.”
“We will definitely spread your voice to thousands of households and seek justice for you!”
The reporter’s voice came from outside the picture, and the microphone was deliberately held to Huang Yan’s mouth.
“I want to report that Lin Jian accepted bribes in violation of regulations and asked my family for kickbacks!”
Huang Yan suddenly widened his eyes and shouted loudly.
“Mr. Huang, as far as we know, Doctor Lin Jian is a well – known neurosurgery expert in China. Do you have sufficient evidence to report him?”
The reporter asked again.
“I have evidence.”
Huang Yan said, taking out a piece of paper from the pocket of his hospital gown, unfolding it, and pointing it at the camera.
“This is the receipt for ten thousand yuan that the hospital asked me to pay””
“The doctor explained to me that this ten – thousand – yuan is called the flying – knife fee, which is a private fee for Lin Jian. Isn’t this a red envelope?”
“This money is not included in the hospital’s charging channel and cannot be reimbursed by medical insurance.”
“I haven’t defaulted on the hospital’s treatment fees and operation fees. My family has gone bankrupt to treat my illness.”
“Having this kind of illness, my mother and I are already miserable enough. Why does Lin Jian still want this ten – thousand – yuan?”
“If we don’t give the money, he won’t perform the operation, and my illness can’t be cured. My mother can only find a way to raise the money.”
“I can understand the hospital charging treatment fees and operation fees, but isn’t the doctor’s duty to save lives? Why do they have to charge an extra fee?”
“Is the relationship between the angels in white and the patients connected by money?”
Huang Yan kept shaking the receipt, almost hysterically shouting.
The video ended here.
I cured Huang Yan, he recovered, and then he reported me in return?
“This is a video uploaded to the Internet just this morning, Doctor Lin. It’s a trouble.”
Dean Sun sighed and said seriously.
“Dean Sun, isn’t it normal to charge an extra fee for a out – of – hospital consultation”
“When the other hospital sent me an invitation, they also stated that there was a ten – thousand – yuan flying – knife fee. And after I came back, I reported this matter to the Medical Affairs Department.”
I quickly explained. Regarding this ten – thousand – yuan flying – knife fee, I didn’t violate any regulations. Why was it a trouble?
“After Doctor Lin returned to the hospital, he did report to the Medical Affairs Department, and there is a record to check.”
Director He nodded and said.
“You guys, you just don’t understand!”
“Doctor Lin, I know you received this flying – knife fee reasonably. But what about what others think?”
“Now it’s the information age, and news spreads very fast. I can see this video, which means many people have already seen it.”
“In the video, that patient named Huang Yan is playing the victim to win sympathy while making a fuss about this ten – thousand – yuan.”
“Seeing a doctor is difficult and expensive, which has become the public’s stereotype of medical workers.”
“Whether this money is reasonable or not, in the eyes of the public, it’s unreasonable. It’s regarded as soliciting bribes and accepting red envelopes!”
Dean Sun slapped the table in a hurry.
Cold sweat broke out on my forehead instantly.
6
“The publicity department should first find a way to clarify the facts and make a public explanation.”
“I will report the truth to the superior department and seek advice on how to deal with this crisis.”
“The hospital should strengthen the service attitude of doctors to avoid medical disputes.”
“Doctor Lin, you also need to be prepared. If this matter gets out of hand, public opinion will first attack you!”
Dean Sun pondered for a moment and then said earnestly.
At this point, there was no better way to deal with it. We could only take one step at a time.
I walked out of the dean’s office with a heavy heart, but still held a glimmer of hope.
Most of people should be rational, right? They would understand me, right?
But my hope was soon shattered.
I finally truly experienced how fast Dean Sun meant when he said “information spreads very fast”.
That afternoon, the whistle – blowing video quickly spread across the Internet and caused a heated discussion.
As Dean Sun expected, more than 99% of people thought that the ten – thousand – yuan was the red envelope I asked Huang Yan’s family for.
The Internet was filled with accusations against me.
Many people also shared their past experiences of seeing a doctor online.
It was difficult to get an expert appointment, doctors were cold – hearted, and they had to give red envelopes to both the main surgeon and the anesthesiologist during the operation, and so on.
For a while, public opinion was overwhelming.
The hospital’s publicity department urgently issued a public statement, making a detailed explanation of the ten – thousand – yuan flying – knife fee.
Proving that the fee I received was reasonable, legal, and compliant.
At the same time, many medical workers also stood up to voice their opinions, explaining to the public the difference between the flying – knife fee and the red envelope.
Because I had an operation in a different place, the round – trip transportation costs, accommodation and food expenses were all included.
And for each operation the main surgeon performs, there is a corresponding commission.
Some doctors also felt unjust for me, believing that for a doctor at my level to perform an intracranial nerve resection in a different place, charging only ten – thousand – yuan for the flying – knife fee was already very low.
It not only took time and effort and delayed the work in my own hospital, but after deducting the extra expenses, the actual money received was less than the commission for a normal operation.
But these relatively rational and objective voices were soon drowned out.
Some online media, in order to attract traffic, started various questionnaires without caring about the consequences.
According to the data they publicly released, among the respondents, 70% were dissatisfied with medical institutions, 50% thought that hospitals cared more about economic benefits, and 30% revealed that they had experienced being asked for red envelopes by doctors.
The situation got out of hand.
The Huang family also became famous overnight through this incident. They frequently accepted interviews from various media as victims.
They even boasted on a talk show that they would devote the rest of their lives to promoting the medical reform they envisioned.
As for the ideals they put forward, they were simply unrealistic.
Our hospital also became the target of the media. Every day, countless reporters blocked the hospital, demanding to interview me, the doctor who accepted red envelopes.
Some even pretended to be patients and sneaked into the outpatient department, seriously affecting the normal work of the hospital.
The hospital and the Municipal Health Bureau also made public statements several times, trying to clear up the misunderstanding, but with little effect.
The matter got bigger and bigger, so much so that the higher – ups also issued a statement expressing their concern about this matter.
After much hesitation, I made a helpless decision.
Return the money!
7
Accompanied by his mother and surrounded by a crowd of media reporters, Huang Yan swaggered into our hospital.
Returning the money was a last resort. Originally, the hospital wanted to handle it quietly, but Huang Yan didn’t agree.
“Doctor Lin, medical skills don’t represent character. I hope you will take this as a lesson and always remind yourself how to be a qualified doctor in the future.”
Huang Yan took the ten – thousand – yuan cash check from my hand and said triumphantly.
He looked like a superior reprimanding a subordinate.
But just over a month ago, he was a patient who could only huddle in a wheelchair and had difficulty moving normally.
“That’s him, he’s the heartless doctor who took the black money!”
“If it wasn’t to cure my son, why would I compromise with such a person?”
“I hope the relevant departments will conduct a thorough investigation of him. If he dares to take my money, he must also dare to take money from other patients!”
In front of the camera, Huang Yan’s mother stood on tiptoe, put her hands on her hips, and pointed at me, shouting with a look of meanness on her face.
But just over a month ago, she almost knelt down to beg me to save her son, and she was just a mother worried about her son’s safety.
My heart ached as if being stabbed by a knife. I thought of the story of the farmer and the snake.
Was this the nature of humanity?
I was humiliated by the Huang mother – son duo in front of the camera, and then they left contentedly with the money.
I swallowed all my grievances.
I thought the whole thing was caused by this ten – thousand – yuan flying – knife fee, and that everything would be okay after returning the money to them.
But the facts proved that I was too naive.
Maybe I was an expert in medicine, but in the face of the evil of human nature, I was a novice.
The Huang mother – son duo didn’t stop after getting the money back. Instead, they continued to make a big deal out of it.
They went on TV and started live – streaming.
They packaged themselves as victims while creating an image of upholding justice.
They profited from my misfortune and gained fame.
I could no longer work normally. Some unscrupulous media even used the matter of me returning the flying – knife fee for marketing.
They said that if there was nothing wrong in my heart, why would I return the money.
Some people pretended to be family members of patients, saying that they had been coerced by me and that I wouldn’t perform the operation without a red envelope.
Some said that I was arrested and tens of millions of yuan in cash were found in my home, all of which were red envelopes I received.
There was even an unscrupulous female anchor who claimed to have worked in the hospital before and was forced to resign because I harassed her several times.
Rumors were flying everywhere. I cured Huang Yan’s illness, but under his instigation, I became a target of public condemnation.
Under pressure from public opinion, the hospital had to demote me to calm down the outside world’s doubts.
I was demoted two levels, from department director to attending physician.
Everyone knew I was wronged.
But there was nothing I could do. The situation was stronger than individuals.
I had to endure the great grievance. I couldn’t let the whole hospital become the target of attack and abuse because of me, causing a confrontation between medical institutions and the public.
Because of this incident, the dean also talked to me to comfort me.
I understood. Although it was a demotion in name, in fact, it was also to protect me.
I still enjoyed the treatment of a full – senior professional title, had a special allowance, and held the title of expert.
The demotion was the hospital’s explanation to the public.
Retaining my treatment was a sign of trust in me. These two things were not in conflict.
I no longer needed to go to the outpatient department or perform operations.
I stayed in the inpatient department every day, doing ward rounds and teaching interns. I became much more leisurely.
However, in the eyes of the outside world, I had fallen from the peak to the bottom and could never make a comeback.
8
I had been staying in the inpatient department for almost a year when the outpatient department suddenly called me. I guessed something must have happened.
“Doctor Lin, actually, we shouldn’t have called you, but we really have no other choice. You have to come forward for this matter!”
As soon as I entered the outpatient building, the head nurse came up to me and whispered.
“Please, save my son!”
Just as I was confused, a heart – rending cry came over.
I looked over curiously and saw two familiar faces.
Huang Yan was sitting in a wheelchair, his body slanted, and his mother was crying.
I had received thousands of patients, but only this mother – son pair could make me recognize them at a glance after a year.
The entire outpatient hall was packed. Some patients even stopped seeing their doctors and came over to watch the excitement.
“They came suddenly today, specifically asking for you. They were crying, making a scene, and we couldn’t stop them.”
The head nurse explained helplessly.
“Doctor Lin, please, please save my son!”
Huang Yan’s mother spotted me, immediately pushed the wheelchair and rushed over staggeringly, grabbing my hand and pleading.
“I recognize him. Isn’t he the doctor who was exposed by the media last year for asking patients for red envelopes?”
“Didn’t they say he was arrested? Why is he still in the hospital?”
“This is blatant protection among officials!”
…
Suddenly, someone in the crowd said, sparking a discussion.
My heart, which had been as calm as still water, twitched violently.
“What’s going on? What’s wrong with her son? Why does she want to find Doctor Lin?”
“Don’t you look at your phone or go online? Huang Yan, who publicly reported Doctor Lin for asking for red envelopes in the media last year, is her son.”
“Let me get this straight. Her son got sick, was cured by Doctor Lin, then turned around and reported Doctor Lin for taking red envelopes. Now her son is sick again and she’s come to find Doctor Lin for treatment. It’s so messy. She’s fallen into his hands again. I wonder if Doctor Lin will take a red envelope this time.”
“You don’t know anything. You’re just blabbering. Doctor Lin never took a red envelope. Huang Yan was hospitalized in a different place last year, and no local doctor could perform this operation. So they specially invited Doctor Lin. What they called a red envelope was actually a flying – knife fee.”
“What’s a flying – knife fee?”
“When a doctor goes to another place for a consultation and surgery, the round – trip travel expenses, meals, and accommodation cost money. And doctors also get a commission for performing operations.”
“So Doctor Lin was framed last year?”
“Probably.”
…
The discussion in the crowd became more and more intense. To my relief, there were still people who could see the truth.
“Doctor Lin, my son is sick again, exactly the same as last year.”
After saying that, Huang Yan’s mother wanted to give me the examination report in her hand.
I waved my hand and refused.
“Doctor Lin, please have mercy and save my son.”
Huang Yan’s mother started the act of crying with old tears again.
“Sorry, I can’t treat your son’s illness.”
I shook my head and said.
“Doctor Lin, you can treat it. Didn’t you treat it once last year?”
“Are you holding a grudge against us because of what happened last year? I’m sorry, I apologize to you.”
“Don’t worry. As long as you perform the operation on my son, we’ll pay you whatever you ask, and we promise we won’t report you!”
Huang Yan’s mother became anxious immediately and raised her hand to make a promise.
“So Doctor Lin is refusing because of this. Isn’t this a bit heartless?”
“Although it seems that way, it’s understandable. Would you help someone who reported you before?”
“But it’s about saving a life after all!”
…
The discussion continued.
9
“So, until now, you still think of me as a doctor who would take red envelopes from patients, right?”
I suddenly became a bit angry and asked loudly.
Huang Yan’s mother didn’t say anything, but from her expression, I could tell that’s what she thought.
“This isn’t about money. It’s because I no longer have the qualification to operate on your son.”
“Last year, you and your son reported me for taking red envelopes. Because of this, I was demoted. Now I’m just an ordinary doctor and no longer have the qualification to get on the operating table. Do you understand?”
I sighed and told her the reason.
“Then… then what should we do? There are only three people who can do this operation. Besides you, I really don’t know who else to turn to. Doctor Lin, please think of a way. My son is only twenty – seven years old. He’s not married yet…”
Huang Yan’s mother slumped to the ground.
Why did this line sound so familiar to me?
“Then you can go to the other two.”
I interrupted her.
“Expert Chen He can no longer perform operations. The only one left is Doctor Philip from the Mayo Clinic. I’ve inquired. The surgical treatment cost is one million dollars, and Doctor Philip will charge an additional one million dollars. Plus air tickets and hospitalization costs, it’s almost three million dollars. We don’t have that much money!”
Huang Yan’s mother slapped her thigh and cried even harder.
“Then I can only say I’m sorry. I can’t help with your son’s illness. But you can look for other doctors for treatment. At least it’s possible to save your son’s life.”
I shrugged, indicating that I was helpless.
“Saving his life? What’s the use of just saving his life? My son will be disabled. Doctor Lin, please, please think of a way.”
“You have the ability. As long as you perform the operation on my son, he will get better.”
Huang Yan’s mother simply lay on the ground and started rolling.
“Sorry, rules are rules. We should abide by the rules in everything we do. Now I don’t have the qualification to perform the operation. If I violate the rules, my medical career will be over. It’s not that I don’t want to help, but I really can’t. I hope you understand.”
I said expressionlessly.
“You’re a doctor. You can’t just stand by and watch someone die!”
“Doctor Lin, saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven – story pagoda. This is a good deed that accumulates virtue!”
Seeing that I wasn’t moved, Huang Yan’s mother started moral – kidnapping me.
“Sorry!”
I still shook my head.
“Lin, I know you’re finding so many excuses because you’re holding a grudge against us. What can’t be treated? Clearly, you just don’t want to treat him!”
“Isn’t it just that you had to take out the red envelope you got? Now, what are you pretending to be so noble for?”
“If you were really so law – abiding, why did you take our money in the first place?”
Seeing my firm attitude, Huang Yan’s mother got up from the ground in a flash, stopped pretending, and started to act recklessly, pointing at my nose and cursing.
“That wasn’t a red envelope. It was just a flying – knife fee. The relevant department has already explained its specific use and the reason for charging it.”
“Yelling at me here is useless. You and your son are quite famous now. Pay attention to your image.”
I smiled slightly and wasn’t angered by her at all.
On the contrary, if I really quarreled with her, there might be another piece of news tomorrow saying that I was heartless and deliberately made things difficult for the patient.
“Excuse me, I really can’t stand it anymore!”
Suddenly, an angry voice came from the crowd, and then a young woman carrying a thermal lunch box pushed her way out.
She walked up to the Huang mother – son pair, without saying a word, unscrewed the lid of the lunch box and poured it directly.
A full lunch box of millet porridge was poured all over the heads of the Huang mother – son pair.
10
“Ah! What are you doing?”
Huang Yan’s mother wiped her face and screamed.
“What am I doing? Seeking justice for Doctor Lin and venting my son’s anger!”
The young woman held the empty lunch box and said with a cold smile.
“Who is this woman? She’s so fierce.”
“She said she wants to seek justice for Doctor Lin. Could she be Doctor Lin’s wife?”
“Maybe. She said she wants to vent her son’s anger. She’s probably Doctor Lin’s wife.”
…
I was speechless. Well, isn’t gossiping the basic behavior of onlookers?
“Whispering secretly? If you have something to say, say it out loud!”
The young woman straightened her chest and looked around. With the momentum of a general, the crowd fell silent instantly.
“I have nothing to do with Doctor Lin. I poured this on this mother – son pair just because I can’t stand their disgusting faces!”
“Want to know why? I’ll tell you all right here today!”
“I have twin sons who are thirteen years old. When they were young, they had a car accident and suffered from traumatic epilepsy.
“This disease can be completely cured through surgery.
“Two years ago, Doctor Lin performed an operation on my eldest son, and until now, it hasn’t recurred. He’s already recovered.
“At that time, my second son’s condition didn’t allow for surgery, so we had to wait.
“After waiting for more than a year, my second son was finally eligible for surgery. But then Doctor Lin was demoted and couldn’t get on the operating table.
“Except for Doctor Lin, other main surgeons can only do their best and can’t guarantee the effect.
“Just because of the frame – up by this mother – son pair, my second son still can’t receive surgical treatment until now and is tortured by the illness every day.
“If it weren’t for them, my second son would definitely have recovered by now!”
“I’m a mother. You all put your hands on your hearts and say, is it wrong for me to pour this on this mother – son pair?”
The young woman loudly stated the reason for her actions.
I remembered her. I was the one who performed the operation on her eldest son. Originally, the operation for her second son was scheduled for the end of last year, and I was supposed to be the main surgeon.
Because of the demotion, it was canceled.
The scene was silent. Everyone stared at her, waiting for her to continue.
“Now let me talk about why I want to seek justice for Doctor Lin.”
“I’m a local. Because of my two sons’ illnesses, I joined several patient groups.
“Many patients have recovered under Doctor Lin’s treatment, but I’ve never heard that Doctor Lin took anyone’s red envelope.
“Some people even wanted to give him red envelopes, but Doctor Lin refused.
“Doctor Lin is not the heartless doctor those online rumors say he is. He never accepts any bribes.
“I’ve followed the story of this mother – son pair. The ten – thousand – yuan flying – knife fee was what Doctor Lin deserved.
“Doctor Lin cured her son’s illness, but they turned around and reported Doctor Lin for taking a red envelope. Weren’t they just trying to get treatment for free?
“They reported on TV and did live – streaming on the Internet, ruining Doctor Lin’s reputation by spreading rumors and forcing Doctor Lin to return the money to them.
“Doctor Lin can’t perform operations anymore. Do you know how many patients who hoped to be treated by Doctor Lin have been harmed by this mother – son pair?
“You want to take advantage and cut off the path to recovery for others. Believe it or not, if I make a call right now, those patients in the group will come and tear you two apart?
“Heaven has eyes. Your son is sick again, and now you think of looking for Doctor Lin. What were you doing earlier?
“It’s only because Doctor Lin is so magnanimous. If it were me, I would have slapped you long ago.”
The young woman got angrier as she spoke. She threw the lunch box in her hand aside and pointed at Huang Yan’s mother, scolding her.
11
“There’s one more thing that probably none of you know.
“Doctor Lin suggested they go to the Mayo Clinic for the operation. This old woman cried poor, saying she didn’t have the money.
“Over the past year, this mother – son pair has gained fame by spreading rumors and slandering Doctor Lin. They did live – streaming and took on advertisements, earning a lot of money with a guilty conscience. They definitely have enough money to cover this cost.
“But why didn’t they go? Because if they go abroad, even if they report, no one will return the money.
“Only in our country, a good person like Doctor Lin would endure the grievance himself because he doesn’t want to exacerbate the conflict.
“Everyone comes to the hospital to see a doctor. Please open your eyes and use your brains. If Doctor Lin was really as bad as those online rumors say, would he still be here today?
“If you don’t believe me, go online and check. Doctor Lin’s profile still shows his full – senior professional title and the title of an expert enjoying a special allowance from the State Council.
“What does this mean? It means the country recognizes and trusts Doctor Lin. He was just deliberately slandered by some people with ulterior motives.
“If hospitals and doctors were really that corrupt, who would come to the hospital to see a doctor? Admittedly, there are indeed some doctors with bad medical ethics, but the vast majority of medical workers care about their patients and deserve the title of ‘angels in white’. “
The young woman’s eloquence was really impressive. She spoke non – stop, like a machine gun, rattling off a whole bunch of words.
I even suspected she had memorized a script.
“Beauty, you’re so right. I support you!”
A man in the crowd raised his hand and shouted loudly.
“Don’t call me beauty. Call me sister!”
The young woman glared at him coquettishly.
“Okay, sister!”
The man immediately changed his words, drawing bursts of laughter.
“Doctor Lin, I believe in you, and many others do too. We will all support you!
“I’ve been organizing patients to petition recently, asking the relevant departments to restore your position. My second son is waiting for you, and there are many other patients who need you waiting too.”
The young woman said, and suddenly bowed to me.
“Thank you, thank you!”
I reached out to help her up, my eyes already red.
The grievance that had been pent up in my heart for a year was finally released at this moment.
“They framed Doctor Lin, and now that they’re sick, they come to him again. How thick – skinned they are.”
“Exactly. If I were them, I would have been too ashamed to show my face. I’d have to wear a pair of underwear on my head when I go out.”
“Get out of here. Don’t dirty Doctor Lin’s eyes!”
“Get out!”
…
The patients and their family members in the outpatient hall began to accuse the Huang mother – son pair one after another. In the end, they all shouted three words in unison.
Huang Yan’s mother pushed the wheelchair and fled in a hurry, almost running.
Soon, the scene that happened in the outpatient hall was filmed by the patients present with their mobile phones and uploaded to the Internet, triggering public opinion again.
The victim turned out to be a freeloader, and the heartless doctor was wrongly accused for a year.
All kinds of headlines emerged.
After a year, the truth came to light, and justice prevailed.
Many people left messages online to apologize to me, and even more people sent me apology letters by mail.
Those patients who had been treated by me also spontaneously organized to send me pennants at the hospital.
My reputation was restored, and so was my position.
“Doctor Lin, there’s a rumor outside that the Huang mother – son pair have gone abroad for surgery. Everyone is curious. If they didn’t have enough financial ability to go abroad, would you save him? After all, he made you suffer an unjust injustice.”
In an interview program, the host asked me this question.
“Yes, I would. Being a doctor is not only a profession but also a symbol of hope.
“On the operating table, there are only patients and doctors. There are no personal grudges.
“At most, I would leave after the operation.”
I have let it go!
– End –
