P is for Psychiatry part 8
The next morning, Roy picked up Johnny at his apartment and they drove over together to the hearing. "So how was your night last night? Dix treat you well?"
"Yeah, we had a great time. Dr Early came over after supper and banged out a few tunes on the piano and Dixie joined in singing – y'know, she's so good she could've made records or somethin'! I almost forgot about this crap for a couple of hours."
"Was Brackett there too?"
"He dropped in for a few minutes. Said he had some researching to do."
"That man just goes and goes all the time, doesn't he?"
"I guess." John was silent for a moment and then said, "Roy, you think I got a chance of beating this thing? I mean, at first I thought there was no way it would stick. Then yesterday, listening to her, I thought, there's no way anybody'll believe me. I just wish I knew what was going to happen."
"Do you really?"
"Huh. Maybe not. I guess I mean I wish I knew it was gonna be okay."
"I think it will, Johnny. I really think it will." Roy gave his friend a pat on the back to encourage him.
Just as they were ready to go back into the room, they were surprised to see Dr Brackett run up with a manila envelope and hand it to John. "Give this to your lawyer, hose-jockey, and good luck to you. I have a feeling everything is going to be fine." Then he was gone.
John was turning the envelope over and over in his hands as if it was a genie in a bottle. Roy gently pushed him into the room. John handed the envelope to his lawyer, who looked at him expectantly. When Johnny just shrugged, the lawyer opened it with his fingernail.
Christine and her lawyer were already sitting in their places, but although she had a self-righteous smugness about her, her lawyer looked irritated. The last members of the committee filed in and as the mediator sat down, he asked if there was any new information to be presented to the committee.
John's lawyer held up his hand. All eyes were on him, none so intently as those of his anxious client, who was chewing on his fingernails. "I have three affidavits to submit to the committee if you please, Mr Chairman."
Three?
"You may present summaries of them to the committee in your own words, so that we can all hear the same information at the same time, if you will."
"With pleasure." John could see Christine frowning at this turn of events and she poked at her lawyer, who was busy writing on his notepad. He shot her an angry look, and John wondered what was up between them. He sat up straighter. All this was very interesting.
"Mr Chairman, Miss Douglas, members of the committee, I would like to share with you some facts that have just come to light. I have here copies of two official complaints that Miss Douglas has filed recently – the first one against her personal physician for malpractice, the second against her former lawyer, whom she accused to the Bar Association of biased and unprofessional conduct." As the lawyer slid the two reports across the table to the mediator, John noticed Christine's lawyer give a small derisive snort at the announcement. Well now. Johnny hadn't expecting this turn of events.
"The third document is a summary of recent research into a clinical disorder, for which Miss Douglas has previously received a diagnosis." Christine's eyes narrowed into sharp daggers at the lawyer as he said that, and if looks could kill, his back would be pinned against the far wall. He handed the first two documents over to the mediator. "As you can see, Miss Douglas has a history of, shall we say, difficult relationships. The doctor who is mentioned in the first affidavit had been treating her for several years, and believed that her symptoms were best represented by a disorder known as Cyclothymic Personality. Miss Douglas disputed this diagnosis and filed a malpractice suit a couple of years ago, which was resolved in favour of the doctor. While pursuing the malpractice suit, Miss Douglas fell out with the lawyer representing her at the time and decided to report him to the Bar Association as I previously mentioned. Her accusations towards her lawyer were found to be without merit by that body. And so gentlemen, we find ourselves here today. Need I say that the accusations against Mr Gage appear to be following a certain pattern already established by Miss Douglas?"
It was clear from Christine's reactions that she considered these revelations to be another form of attack. It was also clear that her lawyer had recently received the same information as his colleague, and he was not impressed at all. John's heart felt lighter than it had since this whole thing started. He looked at Roy and grinned. He was very interested in the document that remained in his lawyer's hand – the one that Brackett had given him that morning. Was this the research he had been so busy with the night before?
His lawyer held up the papers from the manila envelope. "This third document describes in detail the antecedents, characteristics, treatment and prognosis of Cyclothymic personality disorder, a psychiatric mood disorder also known in some medical circles as Borderline personality. It is characterized by unstable moods, black and white thinking where everything is either wonderful or terrible, a person is an angel or a demon, that kind of thing, and what is termed the untenable paradox. In other words, people working or living with these patients are constantly being put into situations where nothing they do or can do according to the rules of the patient can possibly work. One example cited in the literature is the common paradoxical demand of the patient who cries, "If you care for me, you would just let me die." Borderline refers to the fine line between neurosis and psychosis that these patients present."
The lawyer paused, and looked around at the committee members. "You have heard Miss Douglas' version of events. You have heard Mr Gage's version. I believe it is important to consider that Mr Gage is considered to be an exemplar within his profession, with years of experience and no previous indications in his employment record of inappropriate behaviour. There were also other people present who did not see any inappropriate action on the part of Mr Gage. On the other hand, Miss Douglas has a series of well documented adversarial relationships with those who have tried to help her in the past, and a psychiatric diagnosis that fits with the behaviour reports we have heard in the past few days, such as considering Mr Gage dating material and then, when her advances were not reciprocated, making it appear that he was abusive to her. When stripped of rhetoric and emotion both accounts of their interactions that morning appear to be very similar in content. It is only the interpretation of Miss Douglas that the standard medical procedures Mr Gage used were of harmful intent.
"I would put it to you, members of this committee, that the charges against Mr John Gage, fireman paramedic of the Los Angeles County Fire Department be considered to be baseless and be rejected by this committee without further ado, and that he be allowed to continue to work in his chosen vocation. Thank you."
The mediator was visibly impressed, and Christine visibly incensed. As chairman, he dismissed the lawyers, their clients and Roy so that the committee could discuss the presentations and render their decision. As they got up to leave, he said, "Don't go too far – I don't think this will take very long."
Sure enough, they were only in the hallway for about 45 minutes when they were called back in. With a smile, the mediator invited everyone to retake their seats. "We are making the following recommendations on behalf of this committee: Number one, that all complaints against John Gage be considered to have been made in prejudice and to be without basis and are therefore dismissed; number two, it is strongly suggested that Christine Douglas receive medical support for her condition and be treated by a specialist who understands the volatile nature of this disorder. We commend the paramedic program in general and John Gage in particular for his professional conduct throughout this investigation and state that any record of these proceedings must include this commendation."
As Christine opened her mouth, her body shaking with anger, he forestalled her; "And before you think about suing us for these recommendations, you might want to find yourself a lawyer who will actually take your case." At that, her lawyer gave a rueful grin and shook his head. He shook hands with the mediator and was the first one out the door. With no one in the room giving her the least semblance of support, she picked up her purse and stormed out the door. A few seconds later they heard a howl of rage coming from the hallway.
Roy looked in a considering manner at his partner and said, "I dunno, Johnny. Don't you think she was rather cute?"
John's eyes opened wide in horror. "Don't even joke about that, Roy! You'll give me more nightmares!" Roy grinned.
His lawyer smiled at him. "Inside that package you gave me was a note from Dr Brackett that said among those who work with and treat people with this disorder there is a saying that if the presenting patient makes you feel like you're the one who's crazy, it's probably Borderline."
"Sounds right to me!" said John.
"By the way, John, I found out how her lawyer knew about you dating Valerie Peterson – seems he's a junior in the same law firm as her husband," the lawyer added.
"Well, that explains a lot! I'm sure glad to hear it 'cause I thought maybe there were private detectives going 'round behind my back or somethin'!"
"I don't think you've got anything to worry about. And I just want to add this. After working with you, if anything ever happened to me or someone I cared about, I would hope it would be you and your partner here who would answer the call – just saying."
"I can't say it's been a pleasure, but I'm sure glad you had my back. Thanks, man." They shook hands and Roy opened the door and motioned for John to go through first.
Similar to the day before, as they left the building, there was a group of people in the foyer waiting to speak with John and give him support. His wide smile told them all they wanted to know, and the foyer erupted into cheers and back slapping and hugging. His brothers from 51 were there, and Marco suggested that they all go somewhere to celebrate. There were several nurses present too, including Kimberly, who threw her arms around Johnny's neck, much to his surprise. "If there's going to be a party," she cooed into his ear, "Can I be your date?"
"You sure can!" he beamed. "Lead the way, Marco!"
Dixie asked him when they were all seated at an extended table in the restaurant, "How are you doing, Johnny? I bet you're pretty mad at that witch for doing this to you. I know I could gladly rip her into little pieces!" She looked rather fierce as she said it, and a couple of people nearby volunteered to help her.
Johnny leaned back in his chair with his arms flung around the shoulders of his buddies on either side of him, and said, "Y'know what, Dix? I'm not. Y'know why? She's got a medical diagnosis of something or other. I don't know what it's like to have that thing, whatever it is, but it's pretty clear it screws up your head and your life big time." He sat up and put his hands together on the table. "Y'ever see that movie "It's a Wonderful Life"? Well, that's how I feel right now. Just like Mr Potter, Miss Douglas can sit in her mean ol' place hating me, but I am the richest man in LA – 'cause I've got real friends." He raised his glass, "To friends!"
Roy raised his glass in response, "To Johnny Gage!"
The room echoed, "To Johnny!"