The next morning, at nearly half past nine, Yan Feifan and Mrs. Yu arrived at the hospital’s medical affairs department in the general administration building.

In a small conference room, they met two male officials from the Ministry of Health who had come to investigate the alleged violation.

One was Li Xinmin, a section chief in his thirties, and the other was a young investigator, Sun Xian.

Also attending the meeting was Zhou Yuan, a section chief from the hospital’s medical affairs department who specialized in handling complaints and medical disputes.

“Mrs. Yu, Mr. Yan…”

Li Xinmin from the Ministry of Health spoke politely, “Allow me to first brief you on the details of the complaint.”

“The patient, Huang, filed a complaint stating that at noon on April 21st, he underwent a left thumb replantation surgery in the trauma surgery department of the Affiliated Hospital.”

“Shortly after the surgery began, Mrs. Yu, you were unable to continue due to a sudden health issue.”

“Under those circumstances, instead of assigning the attending physician who was present, you allowed Yan Feifan, a resident physician unqualified to perform the procedure, to take over the entire operation.”

Noticing Chen Yu nod slightly, Li Xinmin continued, “The patient claims that because the surgery was performed by the technically deficient Mr. Yan, the functional recovery of his left thumb did not meet expectations.”

Chen Yu scoffed, her tone laced with sarcasm. “If his ‘expectation’ was for it to be exactly like it was before the injury, then I suppose I have nothing to say.”

Having been interrupted, Li Xinmin glanced at Yan Feifan’s calm expression before continuing, “The patient, Huang, is demanding a medical malpractice evaluation and a disability assessment.”

“Huang is also demanding a full refund of his medical expenses, as well as disability compensation.”

“Furthermore, claiming the thumb’s poor recovery has severely impacted his carpentry work, he is demanding compensation for loss of future earnings and mental anguish, totaling six hundred and seventy thousand…”

Hearing this, Chen Yu couldn’t hold back any longer. SLAM! She hit the conference table. “Fucking hell, he’s lost his mind over money.”

“That bastard. On the day he was discharged, he couldn’t stop thanking us. The second he’s out the door, he turns around and tries to fucking shake us down…”

At that, young Sun Xian’s expression hardened. “Mrs. Chen,” he said sternly, “is this the time or place for you to be slamming tables?”

“Let me remind you, we are representing our superiors at the Ministry of Health, and we are here to investigate and verify a patient’s complaint!”

“This is a formal investigation. Show some respect!”

Chen Yu’s eyes flashed, and she was about to retort when Zhou Yuan, the section chief from the medical affairs department, cut her off with two sharp coughs.

Zhou Yuan spoke slowly. “This is Binhai University Affiliated Hospital, not some back-alley clinic or minor hospital.”

Hearing the pointed remark, Sun Xian’s eyebrows shot up. He was about to speak, but was kicked hard in the shin.

Zhou Yuan then turned his gaze to Chen Yu. “Mrs. Yu,” he reminded her, “let’s stick to the facts. We’re all educated, civilized people here. No need for foul language.”

“Besides, all that table-slamming… doesn’t your hand hurt?”

“I was just so angry! I couldn’t help it!”

Chen Yu explained resentfully before turning to Li Xinmin. “The surgical video, the operative report, the patient’s medical records—all the documentation is complete,” she said stiffly.

“As for the rest, ask what you need to ask, and be quick about it. I have plenty of patients waiting for me back in the department.”

Li Xinmin gave a small smile. “The Affiliated Hospital has already provided all of that documentation. We will review it carefully.”

“We just have a few questions to verify with you both in person. It won’t take up too much of your time.”

He paused briefly before asking in a serious tone, “First question. According to the Affiliated Hospital’s regulations on tiered surgical privileges, a Tier 1 procedure like finger replantation is not to be led by a resident physician…”

At this, Zhou Yuan cut in. “Mr. Li, allow me to clarify something. That is merely an internal hospital management policy.”

“As a teaching hospital, we established this system of tiered surgical privileges to ensure surgical quality and protect patient interests.”

“However…” Zhou Yuan’s tone was emphatic. “Yan Feifan is an excellent, state-registered surgeon who holds a full medical license.”

“According to national health regulations, he is permitted to act as the lead surgeon for a procedure of any difficulty.”

“So, what Mrs. Yu and Mr. Yan did was, at most, a violation of internal hospital policy. But it was not, I repeat, illegal.”

“I’m sure you’re aware of that, aren’t you, Mr. Li?”

Li Xinmin nodded slightly. “Of course, I’m aware. The actions of Mrs. Yu and Mr. Yan did not violate any professional statutes.”

“I’m simply curious why, with a higher-ranking attending physician present, you, Mrs. Yu, chose to have Mr. Yan, who is only a resident, take charge of the rest of the surgery.”

Chen Yu snorted. “And who made the rule that an attending physician’s medical and surgical skills are automatically superior to a resident’s?”

“Even if that’s generally true, it doesn’t apply to Mr. Yan. He’s an exception.”

Chen Yu added impatiently, “Didn’t the patient demand a medical malpractice evaluation and a disability assessment?”

“Once you’ve assessed the recovery of his finger, you’ll understand that the quality of the replantation surgery Mr. Yan performed is hardly inferior to my own.”

Li Xinmin explained, “As for the disability assessment, we have already assigned a qualified agency to conduct it.”

“This investigation is to gather the relevant information for the malpractice evaluation.”

Just then, the young investigator, Sun Xian, spoke up again. “The patient complains that his replanted left thumb is still so stiff he can’t perform even simple movements. He says it has no sensation or feeling, and that the pain is so bad he can’t sleep at night.”

He looked at the silent Yan Feifan and said with a sneer, “And you call that surgical quality director-level?”

Yan Feifan fought the urge to roll his eyes and ignored him.

It was Zhou Yuan who spoke again, his tone mild. “Mr. Li, if we were to simply take the patient at his word, there would be no need for an investigation, would there?”

Li Xinmin shot Sun Xian a warning glance, then said formally, “We will not make any preliminary judgments before the evaluation reports are complete…”

Seeing the animosity between the two sides, Li Xinmin asked a few more minor questions, then collected his materials and departed.

The moment they were out of the general administration building, Sun Xian said angrily, “Chief, these doctors at the Affiliated Hospital are unbelievably arrogant, aren’t they?”

Li Xinmin took a deep breath. “Sun, do you have any idea how many leaders in our Ministry of Health system are graduates of Binhai University Medical College and the Affiliated Hospital?”

Sun Xian retorted defiantly, “Chief, we can’t let that stop us from seeking justice for an ordinary citizen, can we?”

“I’m not saying we should protect them or show favoritism…”

Li Xinmin, sounding exasperated, said bluntly, “Sun Xian, you can’t just run your mouth without conclusive evidence or a final report.”

“How can you be so sure the patient isn’t lying, trying to use this unexpected situation—a resident performing the surgery—to extort a pile of cash?”

Sun Xian couldn’t resist pointing out, “Chief, didn’t you notice? That resident is extremely young.”

“His ID shows he’s not even twenty-five.”

“Even if he’s like me and graduated from a five-year undergraduate medical program, how many years of work experience can he possibly have?”

“I refuse to believe he can handle a complex and difficult procedure like finger replantation on his own.”

Li Xinmin shook his head in disappointment. “Sun Xian, you didn’t do any prep work at all, did you?”

“The file in your hands contains Mr. Yan’s detailed records. Why don’t you read it first, and then we’ll talk…”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep