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Chapter Nine: The Other Side Of The Story


"Dr. Delgado, I'd like to have a word with you, if I may." Lu glanced up from the file she was reading, immediately recognizing the Chief of Staff's firm tone....a tone she was very familiar with, a tone that usually signified the beginning of an unpleasant conversation, a debate, or an argument.

"Sure, Dr. Jackson. What is it?"

"It's about a patient of yours...Miranda Kollier. Her husband came to see me this afternoon."

"Yeah?"

"He says you delivered their baby yesterday, two months prematurely. And as a result, the child has RDS and other special health needs. Is this correct?" He asked.

"Yeah, but I..." Lu started, but Dr. Robert Jackson interrupted.

"He feels that the baby was delivered unnecessarily. He also said that his wife had had her checkup yesterday and you had said that everything was fine. Is that true?"

"Yeah. But when she had her checkup, everything was fine. There was no indication at all that the baby was in distress. I gave Miranda a thorough examination."

"Well, her husband tells a different story. I want to hear your side of what happened yesterday when Mrs. Kollier was brought into the ER." Dr. Jackson told her.

"Miranda was in labor when she got here. She wanted me to stop the labor, but I couldn't. Upon further examination, I realized that the cord was wrapped around the baby's neck. The only way to save the baby's life was to do an emergency C-section. I didn't have a choice, Dr. Jackson. My only concern right then was to save that baby's life. And I did that. I'm sorry if her husband doesn't believe that." Lu stated firmly.

"It's more than that, Lu. Mr. Kollier is planning a malpractice suit against you. Do you have any idea what a malpractice suit will look like on your record? Or on the record of the RWHC?" Robert questioned.

"In order to file a malpractice suit, wouldn't he need need to prove that what I did was unjustified?" Lu asked. Rober nodded. "Yes, he would. And you would need to prove that what you did was justified. And the only way to find out is to talk to Mrs. Kollier. And I am sure we both know that she will side with her husband."

"But she knows that her baby would have died if we hadn't delivered right then." Lu argued. "Bryan wasn't even here when she was brought in. He didn't see what was happening."

"Still, the fact remains, Dr. Delgado, a malpractice suit will not look good. I realize that you have been under some stress since Dr. Stowe left, with taking extra patients and spending more time in the ER. And I assure you that I am doing whatever I can to find her replacement. But if you are going to start making hasty decisions such as delivering a child before it's time, we will need to take action." Lu opened her mouth to speak as she felt the anger rising within her.

"You can't be serious. You are blaming me for this? That little girl would have died if I hadn't delivered her. Why don't you believe that?"

"I'm sorry, Lu. But I have to take into account what Mr. Kollier said. And I am sure I don't need to remind you what will happen if a malpractice suit is brought up against you, and the Kolliers win the case. You will be suspended."

"Dr. Jackson..."Lu started, but stopped, realizing that it was no use. Dr. Robert Jackson already had his mind made up that she had been wrong. And no matter what she said in her own defense, she knew she wouldn't be able to convince him that her decision to deliver the Kollier baby had been a matter of life or death.

"I'm late for a meeting. We will discuss this later."

"What's the point? You already have your mind made up that I'm guilty. So whatever I say will make no difference to you whatsoever."

"Dr. Delgado, I'm sorry. I wish..." Lu held up her hand to indicate the end of the conversation.

"Save it, Dr. Jackson. It's getting late, and I'd like to get home at a decent hour tonight. It's almost 7." Without another word, Lu grabbed her purse and stormed out of her office, leaving Robert staring after her.