The next morning was quick and Eric drove Lisa to Los Angeles County
General. He still worried about her health, she barely ate a thing before
they left, although she had rounds which was at 9 am and she had to check
her patients from the previous day first, so this was understandable. So at
8 am Lisa was in L.A. County. Dr. Hastings would arrive noontime so there
was 4 hours of nothing to do. Ruthie and Peter decided to go see a movie
themselves and Kevin went with them. Mary and Lucy were seeing the sights,
while Eric hanged around the hospital for four hours. Matt was there too,
evidently following Lisa around.
Lisa's first patient of the day following rounds was a woman named Elizabeth Daniels, 40 year old computer saleswoman complaining about abnormal vaginal bleeding and back pain. Lisa noted that the woman seemed pale and withdrawn. As she was doing a physical examination she suddenly stopped as she felt something, something that caused her to worry, along her lower abdomen, around the vaginal area.
"Miss Daniels. I want to run a few tests. Possibly a pap smear and an ultrasound."
"Why is there something wrong?"
"I'm not sure but I think it might have to check just to be sure."
After giving Elizabeth a full pelvic examination, Lisa told her to get dressed and was about to leave the room to give the samples to the lab when she noticed for the first time Matt was in the room. He was cringing and turning away in fright. Shaking her head she left to deliver the samples.
++++++++++
"You know that she was a professional dater?", Matt said referring to Elizabeth.
"A what?"
"A..a well..a woman who used to have sex for money."
"You mean a prostitute. Well yeah she did mention it. By the way I would really appreciate it if you would stop stalking me. And please do not eavesdrop on my patients. That information was private."
Matt frowned and looked at Lisa. The tone of her voice was polite but serious as she looked him straight in the eye.
"I was only trying to help. I am training to be a doctor you know."
"Yes but you are not finished medical school yet. And you begin you're sub I's in third year, not second."
"It may be an infection you know. She was a prostitute you know. Who knows what these women get when they have sex with just about anyone."
Lisa gave Matt a look that seemed like she thought he was ludicrous. Matt seemed hesitant at first. He wanted to help his little sister, and if possible make her understand that she was too young to be a doctor. But this one was more stubborn, more out of control. Like Mary. But then not like Mary. This one was more sure of herself, more certain of what she wanted to do. He watched her enter the resident's room and since it was out of bounds for anyone except interns and residents he simply walked away.
++++++++++
While Lisa was studying her texts on emergency medicine the nurse came and gave her the results of the pap smear. Negative and Dr. Handberg, the gynecologist suggested that she simply give the patient antibiotics, even though Lisa did mention that she felt something unusual.
"Well I didn't feel anything out of the ordinary. She'll be okay.", he wrote down a few prescriptions and gave it to Elizabeth, "We don't need the ultrasound at all."
"Sorry.", Lisa said to Elizabeth.
"No need to be sorry. You're just doing your job.", Elizabeth answered, "Besides I got an important business meeting I have to go to tonight anyways.", she said as she got up and finished dressing, "Thanks Doctors."
Lisa smiled and shook Elizabeth's hand before she left.
"You did all right.", Dr. Handberg said, "Besides she hasn't had a history of cancer in her family."
"I guess."
As the two left the treatment room, Matt said, as he stood outside, "Was I right? Does she have an infection?"
"Yes.", Lisa said.
But Dr. Handberg was not as positive and angrily prodded his finger on Matt's chest, "Look! Stop doing her job! Okay! She is the doctor not you!"
"She made a mistake and almost ordered an unnecessary test."
"I don't care! And she had sufficient reason to do so! Now either get out of this hospital or I will have the nurses call security and have you thrown out!"
Matt thankfully left the hospital.
++++++++++
The rest of the day was pretty much busy. She assisted in prepping four trauma patients, all admits, a man who had his hand caught in a paper shredder(she cringed all the time while treating him and preparing him for surgery, and a boy with pneumonia. Pretty heavy stuff but all the time, something in the back of her mind kept eating away at her. Something about Elizabeth Daniels that did not seem quite right. It wasn't that she was suffering from an ectopic pregnancy. There was something else, something that she could not let go of.
Since there was no more patients to see at the moment and she was done her paperwork and tests, she was now in the medical library reading up on gynecology books. She still could not get the Daniels patient out of her mind. Then a tall, blond haired man entered the library. He looked around and spotted her. Walking up to her he said, "Hi you must be Dr. Lisa Chandler. I'm Dr. Hank Hastings.", he said offering his hand.
"Oh hi I am Dr. Chandler. I guess you're this Uncle Hank Mr. Camden was talking about."
"That I am.", he said sitting down in front of Lisa. He looked over at what Lisa was reading, "Doing some research?"
"Yep."
"Listen, Eric and I were talking and I was wondering...how far into your internship are you?"
"I think I'm just starting my fifth month. Why?"
"Well he was thinking of moving you to Glen Oak Memorial Hospital to practice there."
Lisa frowned and said, "Well I will not dump patients though. No offense but you shouldn't have sent the Tanner boy to Los Angeles by helicopter."
"Yeah I heard about that. You're chief of staff had a few choice words with ours. You see as you probably know our hospital doesn't treat indigents. You must have insurance to be treated there, even for emergencies."
"That's illegal isn't it?"
"Yeah but very few hospitals are policed to prevent it from happening. Are you free? Can we talk? I didn't get a chance to talk to you earlier because you were so busy."
"Sorry."
"No don't be sorry. You had patients to deal with and that's more important. Come on."
"Okay let me sign out this book."
++++++++++
Lisa and Hank talked about things and believe it or not Hank had to admit he was beginning to like Lisa. The girl certainly had guts and was a very dedicated doctor. As they talked Lisa's beeper went off and she checked it and politely excused herself.
"Sorry I got to go."
"It's okay. We'll talk later."
"Oh and say hello to Matt for me.", Lisa said gesturing in the direction of a few tables down from them with a humorous yet annoyed grin.
"Just ignore him. He's always been like that.", Hank said shaking his head.
She nodded and left and Matt came over and said, "Well.."
"Well she is a very good doctor. Not an entirely competent one but she is an intern Matt. It takes years to refine and perfect her medical skills. That's why she is working in the wards. So lay off her okay."
"But she might end up killing someone you know."
Hank shook his head, "Not as long as there are residents and attendings around. But she can only become competent by actually seeing patients and doing the medical work herself. Besides she's not too bad. And she isn't so immature that she will do something stupid or too difficult without telling a resident or attending first."
"But she might do it anyways.."
"If the situation requires immediate action yes. And if it comes to her having to do it immediately or the patient dies, that is a case I think where it is a judgement call that could go either way. If she were in my ER I would understand if she did either. No judge or even chief of staff would hold it against her. Your first duty is to do no harm and death is the ultimate harm."
"But she is a child.."
"Doesn't matter. Not to me anyways. It would be no different than her doing cpr and cracking someone's ribs and damaging a liver. Only difference is her medical capabilities are more advanced. Matt why are you doing this? She wants to be a doctor she wants to be a doctor. If I didn't know better you're getting jealous."
"Who me?", Matt said, giving Hank one of his trademark innocent, hurt and goofy smile that makes him look like a horribly acting clown who had one drink too many.
++++++++++
Lisa hated this. She was helping treat another boy, a 16 year old with a gunshot wound to the shoulder. Worse still the boy was Tommy, Eddie's older brother. Just now Eddie stormed into the trauma room, understandably concerned and upset.
"What happened?! Let me see him! Tommy!"
"He got involved in a gang fight and all of his friends were gunned down.", Lisa said, "He was the only survivor of that fight."
"You stupid bastard I told you not to get into anymore gangfights!", Eddie said fuming and being restrained by the nurse. Eric, who had been passing through looking for Lisa saw what was happening and began to gently lead the obscenity spewing teenager out of the room. Outside he was still fuming and said, "I told him! I said not to get involved! But he won't listen to me!"
"I know but for the time being you need to calm down."
"Fuck how can I calm down man! My brother just got shot! Would you calm down if one of your children were in a gang fight?!"
And with that Eddie stormed out of the ER before Eric could respond. Lisa who had just left the trauma room looked at Eric and sadly watched her friend leave.
++++++++++
Lisa was still upset with Tommy's shooting and was working on his chart when she stopped and thought for a moment. She remembered reading a story somewhere where a woman having the same symptoms as Daniels and diagnosed the same way, turned out to have something even more serious. Of course there was no history of cancer. But she was sure she felt something, something out of the ordinary. Finishing up her paperwork and filing it away at the nurse's desk she immediately put a call to Dr. Handberg whom to her relief was on call as well.
++++++++++
Elizabeth Daniels was brought in and now she was having an ultrasound done on her.
"I'm sorry sir but it's just that well I'm not sure."
"You're just wasting her time Lisa.", Matt added who had once again taken it upon himself to follow Lisa around now that Eric and Hank was with her, "And valuable money. And in the muddle of the night too. Do you know what time is it?", looking at the clock and noting that it was now 2am.
"Shut up.", was Dr. Handberg's reply, "Lisa all you have to do is ask okay. If you feel that you are right just say so and be more firm next time. It's better to be sure than to discover something too late."
As Handberg moved the ultrasound sensor Hank said, "Wait! What's that!", Hank readjusted that sensor and pointed to what looked like a mass in the uterus.
"That's bad isn't it.", Lisa said grimly.
"What is it?", Elizabeth said.
"Miss Daniels it looks like you have a tumor. You were right Lisa.", Handberg said giving the teenage doctor a pat on the shoulder.
Eric looked at Matt in a knowing way, and Matt looked shocked and confused.
++++++++++
Elizabeth Daniels was admitted to the hospital for treatment and a biopsy and by the time Lisa's next day was finished she felt good all over. The rest of her shift was uneventful. Nothing major and no admits save Elizabeth Daniels. As she left the ER to be picked up by Mary, Eric was back in Glen Oak because it was Sunday and he had a service to lead that morning, Lisa once more noted that Peter and Ruthie were there also.
"You don't have a home of your own?????", she said in exasperation, wondering why Peter seemed to be hanging around too much with her twin sister, at least it seemed that way. And they were in Los Angeles, 3 hours away from his presumed hometown. Where were his parents? Ruthie snorted at that and Mary mumbled, "Good question.", in obvious humor as well.
TO BE CONTINUED
Lisa's first patient of the day following rounds was a woman named Elizabeth Daniels, 40 year old computer saleswoman complaining about abnormal vaginal bleeding and back pain. Lisa noted that the woman seemed pale and withdrawn. As she was doing a physical examination she suddenly stopped as she felt something, something that caused her to worry, along her lower abdomen, around the vaginal area.
"Miss Daniels. I want to run a few tests. Possibly a pap smear and an ultrasound."
"Why is there something wrong?"
"I'm not sure but I think it might have to check just to be sure."
After giving Elizabeth a full pelvic examination, Lisa told her to get dressed and was about to leave the room to give the samples to the lab when she noticed for the first time Matt was in the room. He was cringing and turning away in fright. Shaking her head she left to deliver the samples.
++++++++++
"You know that she was a professional dater?", Matt said referring to Elizabeth.
"A what?"
"A..a well..a woman who used to have sex for money."
"You mean a prostitute. Well yeah she did mention it. By the way I would really appreciate it if you would stop stalking me. And please do not eavesdrop on my patients. That information was private."
Matt frowned and looked at Lisa. The tone of her voice was polite but serious as she looked him straight in the eye.
"I was only trying to help. I am training to be a doctor you know."
"Yes but you are not finished medical school yet. And you begin you're sub I's in third year, not second."
"It may be an infection you know. She was a prostitute you know. Who knows what these women get when they have sex with just about anyone."
Lisa gave Matt a look that seemed like she thought he was ludicrous. Matt seemed hesitant at first. He wanted to help his little sister, and if possible make her understand that she was too young to be a doctor. But this one was more stubborn, more out of control. Like Mary. But then not like Mary. This one was more sure of herself, more certain of what she wanted to do. He watched her enter the resident's room and since it was out of bounds for anyone except interns and residents he simply walked away.
++++++++++
While Lisa was studying her texts on emergency medicine the nurse came and gave her the results of the pap smear. Negative and Dr. Handberg, the gynecologist suggested that she simply give the patient antibiotics, even though Lisa did mention that she felt something unusual.
"Well I didn't feel anything out of the ordinary. She'll be okay.", he wrote down a few prescriptions and gave it to Elizabeth, "We don't need the ultrasound at all."
"Sorry.", Lisa said to Elizabeth.
"No need to be sorry. You're just doing your job.", Elizabeth answered, "Besides I got an important business meeting I have to go to tonight anyways.", she said as she got up and finished dressing, "Thanks Doctors."
Lisa smiled and shook Elizabeth's hand before she left.
"You did all right.", Dr. Handberg said, "Besides she hasn't had a history of cancer in her family."
"I guess."
As the two left the treatment room, Matt said, as he stood outside, "Was I right? Does she have an infection?"
"Yes.", Lisa said.
But Dr. Handberg was not as positive and angrily prodded his finger on Matt's chest, "Look! Stop doing her job! Okay! She is the doctor not you!"
"She made a mistake and almost ordered an unnecessary test."
"I don't care! And she had sufficient reason to do so! Now either get out of this hospital or I will have the nurses call security and have you thrown out!"
Matt thankfully left the hospital.
++++++++++
The rest of the day was pretty much busy. She assisted in prepping four trauma patients, all admits, a man who had his hand caught in a paper shredder(she cringed all the time while treating him and preparing him for surgery, and a boy with pneumonia. Pretty heavy stuff but all the time, something in the back of her mind kept eating away at her. Something about Elizabeth Daniels that did not seem quite right. It wasn't that she was suffering from an ectopic pregnancy. There was something else, something that she could not let go of.
Since there was no more patients to see at the moment and she was done her paperwork and tests, she was now in the medical library reading up on gynecology books. She still could not get the Daniels patient out of her mind. Then a tall, blond haired man entered the library. He looked around and spotted her. Walking up to her he said, "Hi you must be Dr. Lisa Chandler. I'm Dr. Hank Hastings.", he said offering his hand.
"Oh hi I am Dr. Chandler. I guess you're this Uncle Hank Mr. Camden was talking about."
"That I am.", he said sitting down in front of Lisa. He looked over at what Lisa was reading, "Doing some research?"
"Yep."
"Listen, Eric and I were talking and I was wondering...how far into your internship are you?"
"I think I'm just starting my fifth month. Why?"
"Well he was thinking of moving you to Glen Oak Memorial Hospital to practice there."
Lisa frowned and said, "Well I will not dump patients though. No offense but you shouldn't have sent the Tanner boy to Los Angeles by helicopter."
"Yeah I heard about that. You're chief of staff had a few choice words with ours. You see as you probably know our hospital doesn't treat indigents. You must have insurance to be treated there, even for emergencies."
"That's illegal isn't it?"
"Yeah but very few hospitals are policed to prevent it from happening. Are you free? Can we talk? I didn't get a chance to talk to you earlier because you were so busy."
"Sorry."
"No don't be sorry. You had patients to deal with and that's more important. Come on."
"Okay let me sign out this book."
++++++++++
Lisa and Hank talked about things and believe it or not Hank had to admit he was beginning to like Lisa. The girl certainly had guts and was a very dedicated doctor. As they talked Lisa's beeper went off and she checked it and politely excused herself.
"Sorry I got to go."
"It's okay. We'll talk later."
"Oh and say hello to Matt for me.", Lisa said gesturing in the direction of a few tables down from them with a humorous yet annoyed grin.
"Just ignore him. He's always been like that.", Hank said shaking his head.
She nodded and left and Matt came over and said, "Well.."
"Well she is a very good doctor. Not an entirely competent one but she is an intern Matt. It takes years to refine and perfect her medical skills. That's why she is working in the wards. So lay off her okay."
"But she might end up killing someone you know."
Hank shook his head, "Not as long as there are residents and attendings around. But she can only become competent by actually seeing patients and doing the medical work herself. Besides she's not too bad. And she isn't so immature that she will do something stupid or too difficult without telling a resident or attending first."
"But she might do it anyways.."
"If the situation requires immediate action yes. And if it comes to her having to do it immediately or the patient dies, that is a case I think where it is a judgement call that could go either way. If she were in my ER I would understand if she did either. No judge or even chief of staff would hold it against her. Your first duty is to do no harm and death is the ultimate harm."
"But she is a child.."
"Doesn't matter. Not to me anyways. It would be no different than her doing cpr and cracking someone's ribs and damaging a liver. Only difference is her medical capabilities are more advanced. Matt why are you doing this? She wants to be a doctor she wants to be a doctor. If I didn't know better you're getting jealous."
"Who me?", Matt said, giving Hank one of his trademark innocent, hurt and goofy smile that makes him look like a horribly acting clown who had one drink too many.
++++++++++
Lisa hated this. She was helping treat another boy, a 16 year old with a gunshot wound to the shoulder. Worse still the boy was Tommy, Eddie's older brother. Just now Eddie stormed into the trauma room, understandably concerned and upset.
"What happened?! Let me see him! Tommy!"
"He got involved in a gang fight and all of his friends were gunned down.", Lisa said, "He was the only survivor of that fight."
"You stupid bastard I told you not to get into anymore gangfights!", Eddie said fuming and being restrained by the nurse. Eric, who had been passing through looking for Lisa saw what was happening and began to gently lead the obscenity spewing teenager out of the room. Outside he was still fuming and said, "I told him! I said not to get involved! But he won't listen to me!"
"I know but for the time being you need to calm down."
"Fuck how can I calm down man! My brother just got shot! Would you calm down if one of your children were in a gang fight?!"
And with that Eddie stormed out of the ER before Eric could respond. Lisa who had just left the trauma room looked at Eric and sadly watched her friend leave.
++++++++++
Lisa was still upset with Tommy's shooting and was working on his chart when she stopped and thought for a moment. She remembered reading a story somewhere where a woman having the same symptoms as Daniels and diagnosed the same way, turned out to have something even more serious. Of course there was no history of cancer. But she was sure she felt something, something out of the ordinary. Finishing up her paperwork and filing it away at the nurse's desk she immediately put a call to Dr. Handberg whom to her relief was on call as well.
++++++++++
Elizabeth Daniels was brought in and now she was having an ultrasound done on her.
"I'm sorry sir but it's just that well I'm not sure."
"You're just wasting her time Lisa.", Matt added who had once again taken it upon himself to follow Lisa around now that Eric and Hank was with her, "And valuable money. And in the muddle of the night too. Do you know what time is it?", looking at the clock and noting that it was now 2am.
"Shut up.", was Dr. Handberg's reply, "Lisa all you have to do is ask okay. If you feel that you are right just say so and be more firm next time. It's better to be sure than to discover something too late."
As Handberg moved the ultrasound sensor Hank said, "Wait! What's that!", Hank readjusted that sensor and pointed to what looked like a mass in the uterus.
"That's bad isn't it.", Lisa said grimly.
"What is it?", Elizabeth said.
"Miss Daniels it looks like you have a tumor. You were right Lisa.", Handberg said giving the teenage doctor a pat on the shoulder.
Eric looked at Matt in a knowing way, and Matt looked shocked and confused.
++++++++++
Elizabeth Daniels was admitted to the hospital for treatment and a biopsy and by the time Lisa's next day was finished she felt good all over. The rest of her shift was uneventful. Nothing major and no admits save Elizabeth Daniels. As she left the ER to be picked up by Mary, Eric was back in Glen Oak because it was Sunday and he had a service to lead that morning, Lisa once more noted that Peter and Ruthie were there also.
"You don't have a home of your own?????", she said in exasperation, wondering why Peter seemed to be hanging around too much with her twin sister, at least it seemed that way. And they were in Los Angeles, 3 hours away from his presumed hometown. Where were his parents? Ruthie snorted at that and Mary mumbled, "Good question.", in obvious humor as well.
TO BE CONTINUED
