Practicing Medical Skills in a Small Clinic-Chapter 85: Expanding Connections

Looking at the thick red envelope, Li Jingsheng was quite tempted.

After all, money is tight right now.

Just by the thickness, as long as it’s not stuffed with tissue paper, there’s at least one or two thousand inside.

"Nothing’s free in the world, what is it that Dr. Tang wants me to help with?"

Li Jingsheng, being an adult, knows that pies don’t fall from the sky.

If you take someone’s money, you have to do something for them.

"Uh...um...here’s the thing, didn’t you see a pulmonary tuberculosis patient yesterday?" Tang Weilin said awkwardly, like a newlywed bride.

Li Jingsheng understood a bit upon hearing this.

The elderly suspecting tuberculosis said he was diagnosed with lung cancer at a big hospital. It seemed like the diagnosis was from a top-tier hospital like the Municipal People’s Hospital or Qiaobang Hospital.

It looks like the misdiagnosis probably came from a doctor at the Second Hospital.

"Yes, I did see such a patient. You know, my small clinic is quite basic, unable to make a definitive diagnosis, I just informed the patient it might be tuberculosis."

Li Jingsheng spoke humbly, lowering his stance quite a bit.

Connecting the dots with Dr. Tang’s sneaky behavior outside, wrapping his face tightly, clearly not wanting to be seen visiting Sunshine Clinic.

Now talking about that tuberculosis patient and immediately handing over a big red envelope to Li, asking for help.

Anyone could deduce what’s going on.

The patient and family are probably causing trouble for the hospital.

Being diagnosed with lung cancer wrongly almost scared the elderly to death; the son and daughter were also terrified.

Anger is inevitable.

Given the son’s stubborn personality, he’s likely to pursue it relentlessly.

"You wouldn’t know, now both the family and the patient have been confirmed tuberculosis at a designated hospital and are causing a huge fuss, blaming our Second Hospital for misdiagnosing, even accusing us of malpractice and wanting us to be disgraced..."

Dr. Tang Weilin seemed helpless talking about this.

Though no fear was apparent in his eyes.

A doctor involved in misdiagnosis, with patients and families making a scene, should surely be afraid.

It is a doctor’s instinct.

If Tang Weilin wasn’t afraid of the patient’s uproar, he wouldn’t be sneaking around to visit Li Jingsheng at night with a big red envelope.

Li Jingsheng remembered the family mentioning the old man’s treatment was handled by a chief physician named Mu.

But now the visiting doctor is named Tang.

This situation is quite interesting.

Likely, Director Mu couldn’t lower his face and sent a subordinate doctor as a spokesperson.

Being a chief physician, even just with a deputy high title, they’re someone of stature in a hospital department.

A misdiagnosis by a chief physician from a major hospital is already embarrassing.

If this misdiagnosis was corrected by a doctor from a small clinic, it’s estimated that Director Mu would rather die than come to plead with Li Jingsheng personally.

"Why didn’t you perform a biopsy on the patient before diagnosing lung cancer? Big hospitals are usually very cautious!"

Li Jingsheng was not intending to humiliate but was merely curious.

"Oh, don’t mention it! When that patient sought diagnosis at our Second Hospital, we performed lung ultrasound and CT scans, and both were highly similar to pulmonary tumors. Considering benign tumors seldom cause long-term low fever, fatigue, night sweats, we informed the patient of a higher likelihood of malignant tumors, suggesting a biopsy for pathology.

The patient came to our hospital alone, and upon hearing about chest biopsy, he outright refused.

Then after a few questions, he left.

Our doctors were purely in good faith, telling the patient not to delay the condition, ideally to proceed with further checkups soon, early treatment.

It’s likely the patient misunderstood, thinking our doctors had confirmed lung cancer."

Tang Weilin described the event in detail.

Under such circumstances, the involved doctor is vulnerable.

How to say, doctors aren’t afraid of being sued by patients and families because as long as the confirmed diagnosis of lung cancer isn’t documented, the case usually won’t be lost.

However, doctors are afraid of patients and families slandering them.

Especially reputable doctors, who fear such backlash more.

Just like the uproar back then when an expert misdiagnosed a child’s oral tumor that turned out to be just a piece of coconut shell. Though the expert had no procedural fault, proceeded cautiously to recommend hospitalization for further exams.

Once exposed, it was like falling into a muddy quagmire, hard to clarify.

"So, what exactly does Dr. Tang want me to help with? If the family and patient want to cause trouble, I don’t think I can help you guys with this!"

Li Jingsheng didn’t want to wade into these waters.

"No, no, you definitely can help with this. Through our hospital’s phone mediation, it’s evident the family and patient greatly appreciate you. If you could speak a few good words for us, calm the family’s anger, this event could turn big problems into small ones, small ones into none."

Dr. Tang said earnestly.

No wonder they approached Li Jingsheng for help, utilizing the family and patient’s gratitude towards him, asking him to get involved bore high chances of successful persuasion.

"Mediating a bit isn’t too much trouble. At least I’m willing to lend a hand; all doctors can understand each other’s hardships." Li Jingsheng basically agreed.

In competition, not all peers are rivals; the right way is to aid each other.

Especially in the field of medicine.

More exchange, faster progress.

"Thank you, thank you so much! Please accept this small token of appreciation."

Upon hearing Li Jingsheng’s promise to help, Tang Weilin immediately flashed a very relieved smile.

Being successful on the mission, he had something to report back.

"If Dr. Tang insists on giving this red envelope, I’m afraid I can’t help with this."

Li Jingsheng’s face slightly darkened, rejecting the thick red envelope handed over.

It’s not that he doesn’t love money, nor is he foolish.

As the saying goes, teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime, not just for a day.

This red envelope, at most, contains two thousand.

If he succeeded in mediating, this money would indeed be earned. If he failed, taking this two thousand wouldn’t feel right, he’d have to return it.

Given his clinic’s current revenue, earning over ten thousand daily, two thousand takes less than half a day to earn back.

For maximizing benefits, it’s wiser to refuse any gifts and gain a favor from them.

Normally, connecting with doctors from the Second Hospital isn’t easy.

They’re all incredibly proud, how could they lower themselves to befriend a doctor from a small clinic?

Even though Li Jingsheng was once a doctor in a big hospital, as the saying goes, a plucked phoenix is worse than a chicken.

No one cares what he did before.

A doctor opening a clinic from a big hospital is usersually twofold.

First type, renowned doctors starting private clinics, taking on private jobs for extra income. Typically with much prestige.

Second type, doctors who didn’t fare well, opening clinics post-hospital exile, earning a living.

These are usually looked down upon by hospital doctors.

Li Jingsheng, unfortunately, belonged to the latter.

He always wanted to find some backing; now was a very good opportunity. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

This Dr. Tang wasn’t his target; the hidden Director Mu is the person he wants to connect with.

Helping them greatly indebts them to Li Jingsheng.

It’s merely getting this favor acknowledged that requires some thought.

He must leave Director Mu with enough dignity while ensuring recognition.