[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.” He wiped his nose for a second time.“Do you have any questions before we begin?”Morgan found his dispassionate monotone reminiscent of a tired waiter’s recital of the Saturday-night dinner specials for the twentieth time.She was tempted to tell him that although he might find these proceedings to be a matter of routine, they were humiliating and disconcerting to her.But with Ben’s advice still echoing in her mind, she said instead, “I have no questions.”He picked the top paper from the first stack.“I have a brief description of the Code Fifteen along with the complaint, which I’m sure you know was anonymous.I’d like to get your side of things from the first moment you met Miss Russo.” He then raised his eyes to meet hers for the first time since he had paraded into the office.Anxious to plead her case, Morgan moved to the front of her chair and laid her forearms on the armrests.For the next twenty minutes she went through every aspect of Faith’s treatment in methodical detail.Ever careful to avoid sounding like a defensive physician struggling to explain away a poor patient outcome, she conducted herself in a professional manner and confined her comments to the medical facts of the case.When she finished, Cochran took a minute or so to complete his notes.“I want to make sure I’m clear on something.Is it your opinion that Miss Russo did not have a ruptured spleen the first time you saw her?”“That’s correct.”“Would you please explain to me again how you reached that conclusion?”“There was absolutely no physical or laboratory evidence that any of her abdominal organs had been injured in any way.As you can see from the medical record, I carefully documented my findings before discharging her.”Morgan watched while he again pored over the ER record.He asked, “Would I be fair in reporting to the board that you reviewed the triage nurse’s note before examining Miss Russo?”“I reviewed it in detail.” Morgan knew he was referring to the nurse’s notation that Faith had complained of vague abdominal pain.Before Cochran could question her on the point, she went on to add, “In fact, it was because of the admitting nurse’s entry that I repeated Miss Russo’s abdominal examination.When I found nothing abnormal, I again asked her if she had sustained an injury to any part of her abdomen.She told me she hadn’t.”Cochran slid his reading glasses off and set them down on the desk.He appeared puzzled.It was the first hint Morgan had that tucked away in some small fissure of his robotic brain, he was listening to her.“I’d like to include something in my report that indicates why you believe Miss Russo was hurt after she left the emergency room.Is there anything in the police or paramedic’s reports that would substantiate your theory?”“I’m afraid not,” Morgan answered with a sudden loss of resolve.Cochran replaced his glasses, interlaced his fingers, and set his hands on the desk.“Dr.Connolly, I’ve been an AHCA investigator for twenty years.If I’ve learned anything it’s that these cases rarely come down to what a physician thinks or theorizes.The only thing that matters is what he or she can prove.”“I wasn’t with Miss Russo when she left the emergency room, so there’s no way I can prove that’s when her injury occurred.All I can tell you is that it’s the only explanation that makes sense.”“Is there anything else you would like me to include in my report?”She shook her head.“Not that I can think of at the moment.”Cochran returned Morgan’s file to his briefcase.“I’m truly sorry this happened to you.I’m a registered nurse by training.I worked in a busy emergency room for five years, so I have a pretty good idea of the crazy things that can go wrong.” He paused for a few seconds while he checked to make sure his briefcase was locked.“I’m not supposed to say this, but I hope things go your way.”With a note of desperation in her voice, Morgan asked, “Is there anything else I can do?”“The board meets in two weeks
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]