Queen of The Scalpel - Chapter 42
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It was because of Elise’s referral and the miraculous condition of the patient.
There wasn’t a name on the referral, so all the doctors tried to figure out who had done that unbelievable surgery.
***
“Just what is this?”
The director of the Imperial Cross Hospital and royal physician, Viscount Ben, had an unbelieving face.
“How was this surgery performed?”
He looked at the referral. The paper was crinkled because he read it so many times. ‘Unbelievable.’ The handwriting was horrible. Like children had scribbled on it. But the information it contained shocked him into awe. ‘They really did this surgery?’ It was unbelievable, but there was living proof. The servant, Randol, who had lived after being shot directly in the spleen.
‘I barely listened to the Crown Prince when he explained the shooting.’ The Crown Prince had a simple explanation. That his servant had been shot in the spleen, and that they had treated him in the Teresa Hospital so they should come take him to treat him.
But there was no way he would still be alive if he was really shot in the spleen, so it had probably missed and probably hit another location…but that wasn’t the case.
‘Even with special treatment, it’s hard. It says so in Count Graham’s studies as well.’ Count Graham’s studies were like the bible to the doctors.
‘Sure if they did it like it says on this referral, it’s definitely possible. He might have problems with his immune system, but that’s a problem for when the patient survives.’
He immediately realized the significance of this referral. It wasn’t a simple referral, but something all the doctors of the empire should share. ‘Of course knowing it and doing it is another problem.’
How many doctors would be able to do a surgery this difficult? Even he wasn’t confident in it. ‘Maybe if I take it slowly I can, but this is an emergency surgery. Would I be able to do it in time before the patient dies from severe bleeding?’
He shook his head. He wasn’t confident. ‘Just who is this doctor?’ He wondered if this was the same doctor who had figured out the Emperor’s illness. ‘I must look into it right away’
He headed for Teresa Hospital.
***
The royal physician Ben and the director of Teresa Hospital, Gote, were close friends after graduating from the same academy.
“Ben? What’s a busy man like you doing at this lowly hospital?”
Ben shook his head.
“Lowly? How can you say the hospital doing the most beautiful works in the entire empire is lowly? Have you been well?”
“I’m always not doing well, as you know. The hospital is about to become bankrupt any moment, don’t you know? Look at my hair loss.”
“The Clarence family is supporting whatever you lack, aren’t they? The chancellor is really amazing. He made a hospital for homeless people with personal funds”
Viscount Ben’s voice was filled with respect. It was true. The founder of this hospital was Elise’s father, Marquis El. He was doing it all by himself.
“You’re right, he’s really a respectable man. Wouldn’t he be the definition of noblesse oblige?”
The director hadn’t met the Marquis too many times. It was because he didn’t show himself at the hospital too often. Gote thought it was maybe because he didn’t want others to know he supported the hospital.
It wasn’t just the doctors of the Teresa Hospital who respected him. The Londo citizens, and other people who knew. There wasn’t a single person who didn’t admire the chancellor. ‘Some people say this is only possible because he’s rich.’ It was true. Since the Clarence family was one of the richest in the empire.
But everyone knew. Just because you were rich didn’t mean you could do this. Rather, there were more people who tried to get more money because they had it. The Clarence family was the most respected noble family in the empire.
“Have some coffee. But why are you here?’
The scent of arabica coffee wafted up. But Ben didn’t touch it at all and asked with an excited face.
“I have something to ask you.”
“What?”
“Just who is it? The doctor that did ‘that surgery?’ It’s not you, is it?”
“What are you talking about? What surgery? Say it so I can understand.”
“That surgery! The splenectomy!”
But Viscount Gote just squinted in confusion.
“Splenectomy? Cutting of the spleen? What are…?”
“What? You don’t know?”
“Know what?”
Ben gaped. He didn’t know a miracle had occurred in his hospital!
“Look at this!”
What he held out was a referral.
“What’s this?”
“Just read it quickly!”
Gote pulled out his glasses at his friend’s urgency.
“Just what is this? And why is it so sloppy? Not even a child’s scribbles…”
And suddenly, he stopped talking. He was a well-known doctor in the field. And he understood what the referral contained.