Chinese Medicine: Starting with Daily Intelligence-Chapter 95: Let the "Consultant" Make a Move

"Director, how is the patient in bed 3?"

Miaoli asked when she saw Guo Yu come in.

Guo Yu shook his head. "The situation is grim. Based on his physical condition, we originally estimated he could hold on for another month or so, but his mental state is terrible, to the point where he can’t even eat normally. If this keeps up, he’ll be gone in a week."

Miaoli whispered, "Haven’t you advised the family to transfer him to another hospital or take him home?"

A hospital’s mortality rate is a key performance indicator of its quality of service.

Under normal circumstances, they did their best to avoid having patients die in the hospital.

"The family is unwilling. They also want us to provide some treatment to make his passing more comfortable. It would be even better if his mind could be clear before he goes."

Guo Yu explained the situation. "Over a year ago, the patient suddenly became mentally unstable. He kept shouting about needing to go somewhere but couldn’t say where. He also hasn’t settled many of his family’s affairs."

Miaoli grew worried. "Our District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine doesn’t even have a psychiatry department. Can we really treat this?"

"In traditional Chinese medicine, mental illness is caused by a disturbance in qi circulation and organ dysfunction. It requires medication to regulate these things, but..."

Guo Yu paused, then continued, "I plan to request an internal consultation and get other departments involved to see if we can come up with an effective treatment plan."

He organized some documents.

Then he walked into the dean’s office.

「A moment later.」

The directors of the Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine’s main departments gathered in the consultation room.

Guo Yu projected the patient’s examination reports and medical records onto a large screen and explained in detail, "The patient, Bai Han, is 64 years old. He experienced a sudden onset of psychiatric symptoms a year ago, primarily manifesting as him repeatedly muttering about ’needing to go somewhere,’ accompanied by mild agitation. He has a history of hypertension and diabetes, which have been poorly controlled with long-term medication. In the past six months, he’s experienced significant weight loss, and the function of all his organs has declined."

The director of the Gastroenterology Department spoke first. "Looking at the test results, the patient has abnormal liver function and low albumin, which could indicate mild hepatic encephalopathy. I suggest we first correct his liver function and administer intravenous albumin."

"I disagree." Another doctor shook his head. "The psychiatric symptoms have persisted for a year. If it were hepatic encephalopathy, there would have been fluctuations by now. This looks more like an organic mental disorder. I suggest a brain MRI."

"The patient’s current condition is too fragile for that kind of procedure," the director of the Geriatrics Department sighed. "In my opinion, it’s just worsening senile dementia, compounded by multiple organ failure. There’s very little we can do in this situation."

Everyone chimed in, discussing the case for a long time, but they couldn’t come up with a clear treatment plan.

Just then, Gao Jiandong let out a sudden, cold laugh. "After all this talk, doesn’t everyone just think the patient is a lost cause? Since that’s the case, I have a suggestion..."

He scanned the room, deliberately drawing out his words. "Didn’t our hospital just hire a ’Divine Physician’ as a consultant? Why don’t we hand this patient over to him? If he can even cure an illness like this, then I, Gao Jiandong, will be the first to admit I’m impressed!"

The conference room instantly fell silent.

The deputy director of the Respiratory Department chimed in softly, "Director Gao has a point. Isn’t Advisor Li supposed to be an expert in difficult and complex cases? This case is a perfect fit."

"Yeah, I heard he can even cure people with almond milk. A mental illness like this should be a piece of cake for him, right?" another doctor said, half-joking.

Guo Yu’s expression turned ugly. "Everyone, we’re supposed to be discussing a proper treatment plan. Please don’t..."

"I think Director Gao’s proposal is feasible," the director of the Medical Affairs Department suddenly interrupted. "Since everyone agrees that conventional treatment offers little hope, why not let Advisor Li give it a try? Didn’t Dean Sun say we should make full use of our consultant’s abilities?"

Everyone nodded one after another, their gazes turning to Guo Yu.

Guo Yu took a deep breath. "Alright, I’ll report this to the Dean. But I must remind all of you, while Advisor Li is a specially appointed expert, he can’t cure every single disease..."

"Listen to what Director Guo is saying," Gao Jiandong interjected sarcastically. "Didn’t he cure cirrhosis with ascites before? A mental illness like this should be a piece of cake for a ’Divine Physician,’ right?"

...

In the dean’s office, Dean Sun’s brows were tightly furrowed after listening to Guo Yu’s report.

"Old Guo, do you think Advisor Li can treat this illness?"

Guo Yu gave a bitter smile. "Dean, to be honest, this patient’s condition is far too complex. His bodily functions are failing, and he has psychiatric abnormalities. Even if Doctor Li’s medical skills are superb..."

Dean Sun waved his hand, cutting him off. "I’m not asking you that. I’m asking, if we let Advisor Li take over, what’s the worst that could happen?"

Guo Yu thought for a moment. "The worst-case scenario is... the patient dies of natural causes. But given his current state, even with the correct treatment, he wouldn’t last much longer anyway."

"And the family’s attitude?"

"The family is very rational. They just hope to alleviate the patient’s suffering. It would be a bonus if he could regain some of his lucidity, but they don’t have any unrealistic expectations."

Dean Sun nodded and suddenly asked, "Old Guo, why do you think Gao Jiandong and the others are so insistent on having Advisor Li take this case?"

Guo Yu was taken aback for a second, then he understood. "They want to... see Li Xu make a fool of himself?"

"Exactly." Dean Sun shook his head. "Ever since I hired Li Xu as a consultant, a lot of people in the hospital have been harboring resentment. This time, they want to use this ’hopeless’ case to make Li Xu back down. Then they’ll pressure me to cancel the hospital’s contract with him."

Guo Yu grew anxious. "Then we absolutely can’t let Doctor Li take it! Isn’t this setting him up to fail?"

"No, quite the opposite." A sharp glint flashed in Dean Sun’s eyes. "I’ve decided to agree to their proposal."

"Dean!"

"Let me finish." Dean Sun lowered his voice. "First, this case is genuinely difficult, and conventional treatments offer little hope. There’s no harm in letting Li Xu try. Second, if he can handle even a case like this, who would dare question his abilities in the future?"

Guo Yu wanted to say more, but Dean Sun waved his hand dismissively. "Don’t try to persuade me. It’s decided."

"...Alright."

Guo Yu had no choice but to accept.

After Guo Yu left, Dean Sun sighed.

He had also hired Li Xu on a whim. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Afterward, many doctors within the hospital had objected.

He couldn’t help but have his own doubts.

’Maybe my initial decision was a bit rash,’ he thought.

This was the perfect opportunity to test Li Xu’s true mettle.

If Li Xu’s skills were merely average,

he would let the contract run out this year and definitely not renew it next year.

But if Li Xu performed exceptionally, it would also silence the others’ discontent and make them shut up.

...

[Today’s Intel: The patient, Bai Han, suffers from systemic dysfunction and psychiatric abnormalities. Look into his past. A solution to his problems might be found in his life experiences. Remember: a psychological malady requires a psychological cure...]

’What’s going on? Is a patient with psychiatric abnormalities coming to my clinic today?’

Li Xu wondered. ’I’ve never dealt with a psychiatric patient before...’

He didn’t have the slightest bit of confidence.

’It’s fine. If worse comes to worst, I’ll just have the patient go to the City Mental Hospital.’

「Around ten in the morning.」

Guo Yu called.

...

PS: I re-watched a certain fictional story a few days ago and just couldn’t resist borrowing from it. I hope you’ll forgive me.