P is for Psychiatry part 4
The mediator asked for everyone to return to their seats. He said, "We will be returning to the alleged incident in the ambulance, but right now I want to look at another part of the complaint: that Mr Gage lied about Miss Douglas' condition to the doctors at Rampart General Hospital, leading to her receiving detrimental treatment, to wit, inappropriate medication for her actual problem, and prejudiced interaction with the professionals at the hospital." He paused to look down at his notes. "The claim is that John Gage wilfully and with malice aforethought wrongly informed the staff at Rampart that Miss Douglas had attempted to kill herself, and that she was unstable in her mind. This led to her being given sedatives and antidepressants that she did not need and that have had long term negative side effects, as well as being treated by hospital personnel as if she was mentally unstable." He looked up at Christine, and asked, "Do you have anything to add?"
"I'd like to tell my version of events, if you don't mind." The mediator shook his head that he didn't mind, and offered his hand out to her in a 'go on' gesture.
"It's easier if I just start at the beginning. I hadn't been feeling well for a while, and I wasn't able to get to see my doctor. In fact, my doctor…but that's not important here. Anyway, I had taken some pain relief for a terrible headache, just a couple of pills, but when it didn't go away after a while I took a couple more…and, well, I was feeling so sick that I got confused on how many I had taken, or even if I had taken any, and it was just one of those things that happen…Um." She pursed her lips together tightly, and then resumed her story. "I was feeling kinda woozy and since I couldn't really remember how many pills I had taken, I called 911 for help. And then that's all I really remember until I felt that man's hands…" she gave John a glance that held both revulsion and fear – damn, thought Roy, but she was a good actress! "…running over my…my body…all over…" she appeared to be overcome by her emotions and stopped for a moment. Her lawyer patted her arm in a consoling way, and she gave a small grateful smile to him. Roy had to concentrate to keep his mouth from falling open in amazement at what he was hearing.
"When you're ready, Miss Douglas," said the mediator. He noticed Johnny squirming in his seat and told him, "You will get your chance to present your version of events as well, Mr Gage." Christine had to hide her fleeting Mona Lisa smile again. Now that Johnny had pointed it out to Roy, it was so obvious. Did no one else see it? he wondered.
She acknowledged the mediator; "Thank you, sir. Your kindness is much appreciated." She paused dramatically as if gathering her courage. "I didn't have much strength due to the pills I had mistakenly ingested, so I couldn't fight him when he opened my blouse and started…started feeling my chest." She bowed her head as if the memory was just too painful.
"Where was Mr Desoto at this time?"
"He wasn't watching; he was busy with someone on the phone."
"And then what happened?"
"Mr Gage [her voice dripped with distain as she said his name] quickly took his hands off me when his partner turned around. I believe he could see that I wasn't interested in his wicked games by my reaction, and that is why he got up and went to see my dog, who was safely contained in the kitchen."
Roy couldn't help it – his mouth did drop open. In a way, this was a masterful performance – there was just enough truth in what she was saying that Johnny would have a hard time denying it, but it was being presented in such a twisted way that he could almost see her version of events – and he had been there! What must these people be thinking?
"I don't know what he did in there. I just know that when he came back, he announced to Mr Desoto that he would call someone to 'take care' of my dog. I just knew, I just knew, right then, that he meant to have her put down…." She dissolved into sobs. In a moment, she seemed to bravely gather herself together and added, "It's the cruellest, meanest thing anyone could have done to me. And I know it's just because I didn't respond to his advances. He arranged to have my dog killed. My only companion and friend in the world." She held her head up high and it was as if a sign had clearly appeared over her head that said 'Martyr'.
"Are you finished your statement, Miss Douglas?" the mediator prompted.
She shook her head 'no'. "He was out to get me from the beginning. He told lies about me to the hospital staff. He assaulted me and thought he could get away with it because I was sick. Because of the misinformation he gave the doctors they put me on medication that messed up my mind. He's on a power trip. He thinks because he has some training that he's like a god, able to control people's lives. I was totally dependent on him and he took advantage of me. And as soon as he got another chance and his partner wasn't there, his hands were touching me again in the ambulance."
John couldn't take it anymore and jumped up from his seat. "She complained of chest pain and shortness of breath! I had to check it out – it's my job!"
Christine countered right back at him. "That's because I was so afraid. That's what caused my heart to hurt and my fast breathing. I was afraid you were going to assault me even more since I was strapped helpless on a stretcher while your hands wandered over my naked skin."
Roy couldn't stop his reaction of shock and anger - naked skin? She was a patient on a stretcher with a heart monitor! What the hell…! Could these lawyers and non-medical people understand what treating a suspected overdose entailed? How strict the protocols were? If the room was full of paramedics or doctors or anyone with a medical background, they would be able to see through these fabrications with ease! But here, now?
Johnny sat back down slowly, feeling even more trapped in a hellish nightmare. He felt sick and dizzy himself. There was no way his version of events would be believed. Not after this. His career as a paramedic was over. He'd often considered what might happen if he was invalided out of service, but to be let go like this…it was unthinkable. He buried his face in his hands.
"See how he hides his eyes at being found out? I wonder how many more victims he has in his past."
He was down, he was out, and she was still kicking at him. With glee. What gods had he offended that his world was crashing down like this?
The mediator said that as it was now noon, he would like to break for lunch, and resume the investigation at 13.30. John didn't move from his seat until Christine and her lawyer had left the room, and then he reluctantly rose. He looked at Roy, and his friend was concerned by the grim despair in his eyes.