Madison enters and hands me the chicken salad I always have. I pour the dressing and then shake it with one hand as I usually do. I notice the woman sitting across me and how she's avoiding the salad. I also notice how her hands are Skelton like. Her wrists look fragile. I realize she doesn't eat.
"Judge you should eat." I advise her.
"I'm not hungry, thanks." She says.
"Respectfully, if you don't eat, you'll end up unconscious in the hospital. Take it from me."
"I feel nauseous every time I eat." She admits. I look up at her. I sit up straight. I place the plate of salad away from her gaze. So she can look now.
"Nauseous you say?" I ask, reaching for a pen and paper.
"Yeah." She says.
"How long have you been feeling that way?"
"Like 2 months?" She says softly.
"2 months." I mutter as I write it down. "When someone gets nauseous around food, it can mean multiple things." I begin.
"Nothing is wrong." She says all defensive like.
"Jamie, you've been feeling nauseous for 2 months now, and you're saying there's nothing wrong." I say. She sighs.
"Okay, hit me. Tell me what it can mean?" She says.
one a traumatic brain injury. Have you ever had that?"
"No." She says.
"Okay do you hydrate a lot?"
"Yeah, I finish nearly two bottles a day." She says. I nod, writing it down.
"Do you drink?" I ask.
"I do drink but like once a month, maybe." She says.
"So you might have infections. Stomach infections." I say
"And?"
"And that means I'll have to check you. Just book an appointment, and I'll check you out." I say. I close my eyes, cringing once I process what I said. "Not like that...I didn't mean.. check you out. I just meant..." God, why am i like this?
"I get it." She says quickly. "I'll book an appointment, and you'll check." She left the 'me out' part. It makes sense I mean it sounds wrong. I'm definitely not gonna check her out. I'm not gonna check her out like that. Snap out of it.
-----------------
As usual, I'm sitting behind my desk, signing papers. Writing prescriptions. As I'm stapling papers, I hear a knock. I sit up straight.
"Come in." A few seconds after I say that the door opens slowly. And it's Jamie. Looking like a deer in the headlights. She's nervous. "I won't bite come in." I say cringing a little after I process what I said. I close my eyes in cringe. She steps in and walks over to the chair across me.
"Ready?" I ask. She simply nods. "Alright, head to the exam table." She stands up and walks over to the bed, taking a seat on it. I put on new gloves on and walk to her. "Lay back." I instruct. She immediately does. "Okay, so the possible reasons it could be a traumatic brain injury. Heat illness. Too much alcohol. Motion sickness. Infections. Food poisoning and.." I pause.
"And what?"
"The chances are really low, but let's see.
We're gonna do an x-ray of your brain. So follow me please." I say. She hops off the bed and follows me out of my office and into the x-ray room.
"You'll have to take off any jewelry and your clothes. There's a gown in there." I gesture towards the changing room. A few seconds later, she comes out wearing nothing but the hospital gown. Her bare and slender legs showed. She walks to the x-ray, and I walk to the console. She settles down, and I click the console to begin scanning. The scanner beeps, indicating that the x-ray is over. She sits back up and walks to the changing room again. While she's walking, I can't help but look at her wrist, where it's like a skeltons. She comes out back in her black shirt with jeans.
We get through all the checking, and now we're sitting as I'm writing the prescription.
"The results will come out in about a week. I'll let you know." I say
"Alright, thanks."
"Anytime." I say softly,
------------
I stare at the results. This can't be. Can it. I hold the results in my hand. Staring at it deeply.
I decide to reach out to her. I type out her number attached to her details. And quickly send a message
Hey, Ms. Jamie. Noah here. You know the doctor. I just wanted to let you know the results are out. It would be better for you to come and see for yourself.
30 minutes later, a knock on the door is heard.
"Come in." I call out. She opens the door and steps in. I can tell she's nervous. She's fidgeting with the hem of her off the shoulder white dress. She looks stunning. I never saw her like that before. I can't help but wonder. What if she was on a date or with her boyfriend or husband. She walks further in and takes a seat across me.
"Yeah?" She says "what's the results?"
"I think you should see for yourself." I pass her the results faced down on the table. She takes it and flips it so it's facing upwards. She reads it. Her eyes widen and lips parted slightly.
"This..." She begins hesitantly. "No.." I tap the desk rapidly.
"I can't..." She says "this has to be wrong.." I look at her, my expression lost. On one hand I'm happy for her but then concerned but then confused.
"Noah.." She says softly "this can't be..tell me it's wrong. Please." I look at her in pity and shake my head.
"It's not." I whisper.
"Noah." This is the first day she ever said my name. It feels amazing coming out from her lips. Sounds so soft.
"Please." She's bouncing her leg up and down. I want to do something but can't. What can I do? Nothing
YOU ARE READING
Medical malpractice case
RomanceDr. Noah Winifred, a respected doctor, faces a challenging medical malpractice lawsuit presided over by Judge Jamie Scott. As the trial unfolds, Judge Jamie is impressed by Noah's dedication and integrity despite the emotional toll of the case. They...
