"Are you colluding with those murderers?!"
Angry roars came from the reception room next door, causing people to frown.
The Director had already informed the bereaved family of the appraisal results, which resulted in their angry accusations.
"As expected."
Aki Tomoya looked up, having long anticipated the commotion next door.
After all, their loved one had died in the hospital.
"All procedures were normal, including the subsequent resuscitation. The only responsibility is not having discovered the patient's allergy to lidocaine."
But precisely because the patient's allergy to lidocaine was not discovered, that person died there.
It was negligence, and also because lidocaine's rare incidence of allergy is low, it was not taken seriously.
From the hospital's perspective, with the pre-operative informed consent form and the explanation from the attending doctor before the surgery, after the patient signed the consent form, everything proceeded according to normal procedure, including emergency measures taken after an allergic reaction occurred, thus they were not at fault.
But this is very cold. It's human nature; can you feel that mix of grief and indignation after losing a loved one?
The bereaved side, if they want to file a lawsuit, must find more effective evidence to challenge the hospital, so they placed their hopes on UDI.
However, unfortunately, the hospital did not hide the truth; death was due to anaphylactic shock. After injecting the normal adult dose of lidocaine, the patient had an allergic reaction and ultimately died despite rescue efforts.
"They were perfectly fine before being admitted! They only died after going to their hospital! The hospital killed my husband! They didn't even mention that anesthesia could be dangerous!"
The anger from next door could be felt here as well.
Aki Tomoya muttered helplessly upon hearing this, "If they were really fine, there would have been no need to go to the hospital. However, did they not explain about lidocaine allergies? Hmm..."
The grief and indignation of the bereaved can be understood, but
"Even so, it's hard to win the lawsuit, because all medications have the potential to be fatal. Generally, the hospital's lawyers will completely devastate the plaintiff. Unless it's a really major issue, no one will take on a medical malpractice lawsuit. It's regrettable!"
Dr. Toukairin shook her head and sighed.
Everyone present understood the bereaved's anger, but that was the reality. Being called accomplices of the hospital also left them feeling helpless.
"Ultimately, it depends on how the hospital explained things to them afterward. Based on yesterday, that attending doctor seemed a bit cold."
It's still the same problem: how to handle the doctor-patient relationship. This is a difficult issue even in Japan.
When someone dies in a hospital, some bereaved families will blame the hospital, saying they killed the person, and even take them to court.
Apologizing at first might lead to understanding, prompting the bereaved not to pursue the matter, but an apology cannot bring the deceased back. If the hospital appears cold, it will provoke them even more.
"Also, clinical drug allergic reactions should not be disregarded just because their probability is low. Procaine used to require skin tests, but lidocaine skin tests are rare. In my paper, there are already fifty-eight cases of death due to drug allergic reactions."
Misumi Mikoto's hands were constantly typing and writing on her laptop keyboard. After obtaining the identification data for this lidocaine allergy death case, she added another entry to her paper.
Don't let her young age deceive you; she is also an Associate Professor of forensic medicine at a University. One reason she came to UDI was to gain experience.
Being able to become an Associate Professor at this age, while not excluding the fact that there are few people in forensic medicine, she certainly has skill in both papers and practical techniques.
On the other hand, Nakatado Kei is a more experienced forensic doctor than Misumi Mikoto, but without writing papers, he is just a forensic doctor.
"Aki-kun, do you think the bereaved should file a lawsuit?"
Suddenly, Misumi Mikoto looked up and gazed at Aki Tomoya with interest.
He thought for a moment upon hearing this: "Hmm... if the goal is to draw public attention to this matter and encourage greater caution in the clinical application of drugs in the future, then this lawsuit is indeed necessary. However, this matter will place significant pressure on the bereaved, and it seems they are more angry about the death of their loved one. Realistically, it would be best to reach a private settlement with the hospital."
They can file a lawsuit or not. In terms of practical benefits, if they can reach a private settlement with the hospital, that is the best outcome.
At the same time, if they decide to sue, they can frame it loftily by saying it is to raise public awareness of this issue. Drugs can save lives, but they can also kill. No matter how low the allergy rate of lidocaine is, it could potentially become the next Tadokoro Kei.
"Well said. However, as you mentioned, if they actually file a lawsuit, the bereaved side will bear considerable pressure. But whether to sue or settle privately, all we can do is provide expert opinions from the identification and this paper on allergic reaction deaths."
Misumi Mikoto nodded.
"Dr. Misumi is also good at writing papers? Amazing!"
"Mikoto is also an Associate Professor at a University; of course, she's good at papers."
While Aki Tomoya was expressing his admiration, Dr. Toukairin also added an explanation.
"Forensic medicine is work that exists for the future."
Taking this case of lidocaine allergy death as an example, along with the fifty-odd cases collected previously, they are all warnings accumulated at the cost of human lives.
"...That's so cool! It makes me a little tempted!"
Aki Tomoya exclaimed jokingly.
The forensic pathologist in his eyes at this moment was not just doing forensic work for the deceased. Among the bodies sent here, there were not a few deceased due to medical accidents.
Listening to the last words of the deceased, seeking the truth, and serving as a warning – whether clinical doctors or forensic doctors, they are all engaged in work closely related to life.
"Want to join?"
"Well, using this as a warning, paying attention in the future can also prevent many regrets."
He admired her, but Aki Tomoya's inclination was still towards the clinical field.
However, the first deceased person he encountered was such an example of death due to drug allergy, which also served as a warning to him.
"You are accomplices too!"
Here it comes again. It's not easy to get bereaved family members who are experiencing the pain of loss to calm down.
Listening to the subsequent roar of the woman, it seemed she still intended to sue the hospital.
In response, the group could only pray that they could find a lawyer willing to take the case.
But the minuscule possibility of winning would deter people.
Seeking justice – those were the last words spoken by the deceased's bereaved in UDI. From their perspective, this matter could not possibly end like this.
And clearly, UDI did not give them a "satisfactory" answer.
"Dr. Misumi, when your paper is finished, can I be a reader?"
"Of course."
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[pat*eon*com/DaoistRoeoNQ]
Thank you so much for your support!!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"