10 minutes later
Dr Brenner: Rachel listens very careful to what patients have to say. Her diagnostic skills will be wonderful one day. She will be a wonderful addition to the ER.
Dr Carter: Mark was like that as well, in my first year he told me rather than trying too much it's more asking the patient, listening what he has to say and then diagnose him.
Rachel: Yep! And can you stop treating me like I am some kind of precious diamond? Please if I make a mistake shout at me, dad would have done the same thing and I am here in the room as well.
Dr. Brenner: Oh I am sorry.
Susan: Believe me, I would but so far I didn't have to you are good!
Dr. Brenner: Exactly!
In the on-call room
Sanchez: Julia?
Julia crying: Yes!
Julia sits in a corner
Sanchez: Are you crying?
Julia: No, I am just so exhausted and
Sanchez: But, what's wrong?
Julia: Mr. Ghandi, he is refusing treatment! He
Sanchez: Why?
Julia: He got diagnosed with Aids in 1987 and now he is saying that he wants to be with the others, he said he had his life, he already live longer than the others and now he wants to die, just without any pain...
Sanchez: But that's his decision after all not yours. You can give him advice but you can't force home to undergo chemo to have a few more months to live.
Julia: I, I think I am going to quit, I can't do that anymore. I don't wanna tell people that their moms or dads or kids have died and that we couldn't do anymore for them. I am not
Sanchez: But we are doctors, that is what we do, we are ER doctors we help people in their worst conditions in the middle of the night when
Julia: I don't wanna be a doctor in this way, I am a human being and I want to save lives and not be part of a mega hospital that treats people like they are pieces in an assembly line. I am writing my notice right now!
Sanchez realize that she means it
Sanchez: No, you aren't quitting, I wasn't either, wait here, please
Julia continues to cries, sitting on the chair holding a cushion pressed against her body and Sanchez is storming out.
Sanchez: Dr. Carter, I need your help! Please!
Carter: With a patient? Where is he? Where
Sanchez: No, with Julia please she
Carter: What's wrong with her? Hey calm down Sanchez!
Sanchez: She can't do it anymore! She cries, she is breaking down, she
Carter: I ll talk to her!
Susan: Should I talk to her? I mean I am a woman, I
Carter: No, I ll do it! I have an idea for her! She lost a patient
Susan: But we all
Carter: The woman has three boys, delivered now female twins, in the ER inverted uterus, she pushed it back in but the guys in the OR weren't able to save her but the twins live...
Susan: I see and now she thinks she made a mistake and
Dr. Brenner: Go and talk to her. She shouldn't give up!
Carter: I agree! She had a tough week and normally I would say she has to pull through it but Julia is great, she listens, she had a heart, she is not a surgeon but truly made to practise medicine because she care so I ll go and see what I can do for her.
Susan: Good, call me if you need my help with her!
Carter: Thanks Susan. I appreciate that, I know you had a long day as well. Wait here Sanchez!
In the on-call room
Carter comes in: Julia, hey Julia
Julia looks up: Dr. Carter, I am, I tried, I am so sorry I, I need a break, I wanna quit this job. I am
Carter sits down next to her: Hey, you did great today. You are an amazing doctor with a lot of heart and you feel for them.
Julia: But we couldn't save her, the twin's mom we couldn't save her and I should have stayed with her, maybe; maybe if I had stayed, done something, told the others how important she was she would still be with us and could be there for her children.
Carter: That wasn't your job, you tried and we did the best we could to stabilize her, she was brought up to the other team and I am sure they did everything they could to save her, you did your job, you stabilized her, the birth was hard, it was nothing you could have done to save her, that wasn't your job.
Julia: I don't want this anymore, I want people to live and bring them good news not the news of death day after day that is so cruel.
Carter: I know but that doesn't mean you have to quit.
Julia looks at him: What do you mean by that? What do you mean I not in the mood for guessing Dr. Carter, I am so tiered.
Carter: How about you work for the Carter Centre instead I mean for a few weeks? I am sure Dr. Lewis would be ok with that! You would be working for me and some other pretty good doctors that used to work in the ER and that will do that as well! For you it would be less stressful and you can work in the ER or come over whenever you want.
Julia: For you? I would work for you? You trust me?
Carter: Yes, in the Carter Centre and Julia, you did nothing wrong. Have you heard of Doug Ross?
Julia: No! Who is he?
Carter: He is a great guy, real charmer a great paediatrician and heads the centre with me and Carrie Weaver my former boss. You know I am the doctor that tries to figure out everything, what kind of research we should do the one with the name, Carrie is the organizer who is getting the funds and recommend the personnel and handles staffing and coordination and Doug will be the heart of the Centre, the one people will love because he is himself. You ll see.
Julia: And I, you think
Carter: I think you should go into paediatrics
Julia: You do?
Carter: Yes, you could continue your residency here.
Julia: I, I don't know, I mean
Carter: Julia, do you like being a doctor?
Julia: Yes, that's what I always wanted but now I am not so sure anymore I am
Carter: Then you should try that before you decide to quit because I have seen you and worked with you, Dr. Brenner and I think you re great so why not accept a little help and try something new. Hey if you don't like it you can still quit but I don't think you will because I have seen you so why not do it for me?
Julia smiles and gives him her pillow
Julia:I ll try but if I
Carter: Great! You are not gonna regret it. Now go home, get some sleep, have one drink before to pour everything bad down, but only one then be at the Centre at 8 am, I ll tell Doug that you are his new assistant together with Sam and Junie who will work part-time there as well and be your nurses.
Julia: Why are you doing that for me? I am just a normal resident.
Carter: Because every single one of us had situations like this and I am sorry if I repeat myself but I think you are great doctor and great doctors is what the world needs. Not everyone has to go to Africa to proof it like I did. You can proof it by being there for children, take away their fear but don't expect that to be easy if will be hard in another way but it will be worth it.
Julia hugs Carter knowing that he might be right and that she appreciates the help.
Julia: Thank you so much! I am trying to do my best.
Carter: You re welcome and I am going to talk to Mr. Ghandi ...
Julia gives Carter a shy smile
Julia: Thank you but that is not necessary, he already made his decision and...
Carter: I ll talk to him anyway!
Back at reception
Carter: Brenner, you need a new doc for a while! I am so sorry.
Brenner: What? We are understaffed and I cant really.
Carter: I transferred Julia to the Centre, at least part-time. She goes into paediatrics, or let's say I told her to do that.
Dr. Brenner: Are you kidding paediatrics? That is even more heart-breaking than the ER.
Carter: No and she doesn't know that yet, I think that was the only way she wasn't quitting right now. Believe me; I rather have a good doc transferred than lost for the whole medicine world!
Dr. Brenner: But we all go through rough patches, she would have survived, I thought you were just talking some sense into her!
Carter: I saw something in her eyes, give her time maybe she ll change her mind and of course she will stay for ped emergencies so she is not totally lost for the ER. Doug Ross is a great teacher and I want to see Julia laugh again, don't you?
Dr. Brenner: Of course, she is a lovely girl. Alright then
Carter: And hey, you got Susan Lewis.
Susan: He did and Carter I think that was a good move! Julia already looks better.
Carter: Thanks and now let's go save some lives.
Rachel: I am on it
Susan: I want one tenth of your energy I am already tiered, I am getting old!
Rachel: Then I am going to do rounds...
Susan: Be my guest, have a look at the board and ask if you want to know something. Never ever be too shy to ask for help!
Rachel: Promised!