Chapter 48: Risk of Death if Left Unchanged (1)

“Ah ha. Thank you.”

Suhyuk received unexpected thunderous applause as he moved to sit down at the corner of the room. Then briefly, Lee Hyunjong gave a lecture on his weekend PBL assignment. It took approximately twenty minutes due to Suhyuk’s longer-than-expected lecture. However, no one blamed Suhyuk, including Lee Hyunjong. His lecture was worth the time spent. Moreover, it was even entertaining.

“Hey, Suhyuk.”

“Yes.”

After quickly finishing the lecture, Lee Hyunjong spoke to Suhyuk while returning to the hospital. Suhyuk promptly responded since he had been focused on Lee Hyunjong from the beginning.

“You did really well today.”

“Thank you.”

“It wasn’t just empty praise; you truly have talent. Not only for treating patients… Yes, teaching and presenting as well.”

“Thank you, Professor Lee.”

“The spring conference has already passed, so it’s fine. How about presenting at the fall conference? You know what… Yes, with that research project involving Professor Kim Jinsil. Why don’t you present on that?”

“Oh…”

Suhyuk finally recalled his joint research with Professor Kim Jinsil.

She mentioned doing something related to liver cancer…

He hadn’t come up with any ideas yet, although Professor Kim had offered suggestions if needed.

[Baruda: Please wait a little longer. I will definitely provide one.]

Baruda was being stubborn, determined to propose an idea himself to prove his research capabilities. Suhyuk let him be, considering this persistence beneficial.

Suhyuk let it go as this was unconditionally beneficial for him.

“I will try my best.”

In any case, since Baruda was so determined, Suhyuk confidently spoke these words. Lee Hyunjong, needless to say, was pleased with his response.

“Good. Don’t just struggle alone over there… Shin Hyun-tae… No, he can only manage the Lancet. It isn’t bad but… you understand?”

“Oh, yes…”

In reality, publishing in The Lancet is considered prestigious enough, as not many people achieve that feat. However, Lee Hyunjong, being obsessed with NEJM, didn’t see it that way. He firmly believed that only NEJM truly mattered.

“Yes. You should write the abstract with me. Although I am not a professor of digestive organs…I know enough.”

It was likely more than ‘enough’ as Lee Hyunjong could be considered on par with most professors. If Suhyuk Shin was a prodigy due to Baruda’s influence, then Lee Hyunjong was truly a genius.

“Understood, Professor.”

“Ugh, it is getting hot now that we’re walking.” Lee Hyunjong muttered as he entered through the rear door on the first floor of the hospital.

Perhaps it was because of his brief sweat, but the air conditioning felt even cooler.

“You’re right. It seems summer has arrived.”

“Summer is a good season, especially for someone like me who deals with hearts.”

“Oh…the number of heart diseases would definitely decrease?”

“That’s right. There will be a significant reduction.”

As they continued their conversation while walking along the narrow path from the back entrance to the main corridor of the hospital, neither patients nor their guardians frequented this route.

This path connected directly to the medical school, dormitories, animal laboratories, and assistant professors’ research labs. It was quite secluded, so only doctors used this route.

“Hey, hey. Look at that. The director seems very fond of him?”

“You think it’s just favoritism? Is Kim Jinyoung crazy?”

“Woah… If I believed that bastard, I would have missed out on this opportunity. Woah… I almost screwed up, seriously…”

Among these individuals were third-year Internal Medicine residents. They frequently visited the laboratories or assistant professors’ research labs because they needed to publish papers soon.

After enduring three grueling years, it would be incredibly unfair to not even have the chance to take the specialist exam due to a lack of publications.

“Hello, sir!” As Lee Hyunjong approached them, they immediately stopped their chatter and gave him a sharp bow.

Lee Hyunjong nodded his head with just the right amount of warmth without being overly friendly, as was his usual manner. His attitude toward Suhyuk differed markedly from how he treated others.

“Oh, good work.”

“Yes, Professor!”

Thanks to Kim Jinyoung and Hwang Sunwoo spreading the rumor bit by bit, any whispers about Lee Suhyuk’s humble background faded away once more.

In any case, the two men, now bound together by another misunderstanding, continued walking down the corridor.

“Patient!”

“Huh?”

At the shout from their right, they turned simultaneously.

It was coming from the emergency room area.

“The energetic friend must have arrived. Quite loud, isn’t it?” The director muttered as he paused momentarily.

Contrary to expectations, the director didn’t seem overly busy every day. Since Lee Suhyuk had no pressing engagements that required him to rush ahead of the director, he stopped next to Lee Hyunjong.

Tap-tap.

Suhyuk felt relieved; keeping pace with Lee Hyunjong’s brisk steps while using his cane had been challenging.

“Patient! This is serious! Have you contacted the MRI department yet?!”

Whether the patient’s condition had worsened or it was already severe and just discovered now, the urgency of the shouts increased significantly.

Dadada!

Simultaneously, interns and emergency residents rushed towards the source of the screams. Unlike before when they were walking aimlessly, they now knew exactly where to go.

‘The treatment room…’

It was a place for patients with particularly critical conditions among those admitted to the emergency room. Moreover, multiple doctors sprinting towards that location? It indicated the worst-case scenario might be unfolding.

Drurrrk.

Shortly after, several doctors pushed out a bed carrying the patient from the treatment room.

A tube was inserted into the patient’s neck, and what appeared to be an intern was vigorously squeezing a resuscitation bag.

The patient is unconscious without spontaneous breathing.

[It seems they are referring to a brain MRI.]

A neurological disease causing loss of consciousness.

[The prognosis must be very poor.]

While Suhyuk and Baruda were discussing, Lee Hyunjong opened his mouth.

“Are they going for an MRI now?”

His tone indicated dissatisfaction with the situation.

Naturally, Suhyuk turned towards Lee Hyunjong.

“Yes, probably. They seem to be taking images of the head. The person who rushed earlier… I recognize him as a neurology doctor.”

“Oh, a resident from neurology. Hmm.”

“Why…do you think that?”

“No, it just doesn’t feel right.”

“What?”

“I would like to check on him now if it wasn’t for this meeting… Hmm…”

Lee Hyunjong alternated between looking at his watch and the patient moving away before turning towards Suhyuk.

“You go see him.”

“Huh? Me? But he has already been notified to neurology…?”

“Yes. Still, take a look. Use my name. They will listen to you then.”

It was true. Who would dare argue when ordered by the director? Moreover, Suhyuk’s influence could double due to his connection with Lee Hyunjong as they were father and son.

“Ah… Yes. Understood. Should I also inform you about the patient’s condition?”

“Yes. As I have the meeting. If it can be handled by neurology, there is no need to notify me. Just call if something seems unusual.”

“You’re fine with this during a meeting?”

“Money discussions are boring. I prefer to be out of there.”

It would cause trouble for the assistant director and Shin Hyun-tae, the head of Internal Medicine, but it wasn’t Lee Hyunjong’s concern. The director had already decided his role was merely a figurehead.

“Oh…yes…” Suhyuk bowed, wondering if things were alright at the hospital.

Meanwhile, the patient seemed to have moved further away, now appearing inside the MRI machine.

Seeing this, Lee Hyunjong tapped Suhyuk on the shoulder.

“Stop with the formalities and hurry over.”

“Yes, Professor.”

“If anything unusual happens, contact me immediately. Even if it isn’t related to cardiology.”

“Understood.”

Lee Hyunjong walked down the corridor with a hopeful expression, as if anticipating something interesting might occur.

Suhyuk watched him for a moment before heading towards the MRI room.

Tap.

Tap.

His cane made a sound with each step. Ideally, he wanted to run quickly, but he wasn’t accustomed to moving that fast yet. Even if he became more familiar, running might still be beyond his abilities.

‘Why did the professor ask me to go there? Does he have any evidence?’

In any case, Suhyuk’s pace was slow. As he walked, he decided to organize his thoughts by talking to Baruda. Baruda had been analyzing Lee Hyunjong’s statement as well, but it seemed like he hadn’t reached any significant conclusions.

[Bardu: At the time when Director Lee Hyunjong spoke, I stored your visual information.]

‘Oh.’

As Suhyuk observed the scene displayed like a photograph, he couldn’t help but marvel at it.

[For the patient, I can see his heart rate at 62 beats per minute. There is some noise. It appears to be due to movement. Also, the blood pressure… The second digit has been cut off.]

‘Can’t you see anything?’

[I believe it is only one digit. This means the systolic blood pressure is less than 100, which is not uncommon when unconscious.]

‘The breathing was staged… Oxygen saturation would naturally be 100%. What did he observe?’

[It is more likely that he detected something.]

‘Detected.’

Suhyuk involuntarily raised an eyebrow. Lee Hyunjong, a genuine internal medicine doctor, used such strange words like ‘detected’.

‘Well, Professor Lee Hyunjong is quite eccentric…’

However, Suhyuk also thought this behavior was possible because it was Lee Hyunjong.

He was indeed quite eccentric.

Knock knock.

While organizing his thoughts, Suhyuk reached the MRI room with difficulty. After knocking, he entered inside.

There stood the neurology resident and radiographer from before side by side.

“Huh? Dr. Lee Suhyuk?”

Due to Suhyuk’s outstanding performance during the diagnosis of radiation sickness, the neurology resident vividly remembered him. Thanks to this, Suhyuk could naturally join the discussion without explicitly mentioning Lee Hyunjong’s name.

“Ah, yes. I happened to pass by and noticed it seemed urgent.”

“I see. Yes, the patient…came due to unconsciousness, and usually, the prognosis isn’t good. If consciousness is affected by stroke or bleeding…”

Mostly, it would result in permanent aftereffects. In many cases, it could lead to death as well. Naturally, the expression of the neurology resident wasn’t positive. Although he had seen this patient only once when they arrived at the emergency room, his name and face were familiar. It was understandable that the resident anticipated a poor condition for the assigned patient.

“The images are coming,” said the radiographer towards the resident while pointing at the screen.

As he had been eagerly waiting for these images, he immediately turned his head while expressing thanks.

“Ah. There is…a blockage. Oh, damn…” He shook his head with a grim expression after observing the patient’s brain stroke.

Suhyuk showed a similar reaction.

“Yes. Hmm.”

He decided there was no need to contact Lee Hyunjong.

However, Baruda had a different opinion.

[There is a blockage, but it may not be the cause of unconsciousness.]

‘Huh? What do you mean?’

[Suhyuk, look closely. The area affected is too small. A brain stroke of this size wouldn’t lead to loss of consciousness.]

‘What? Wh…?’