The Wicked Doctor

75: Body Map

A body map is a  blank schematic diagram of the front and back of a generic person—which may be anatomically correct—used clinically to document the location of lesions—lacerations, bruises, rashes, etc.—for future reference. Similar schematic diagrams are used to document changes at post-mortem examinations. It is also a map showing a patient's injuries, lesions, or wounds. It is used to record maltreatment by another person in a case of physical abuse or violence.

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"Come on buddy, jump!" 

"I'm scared... I will drown." 

"I'm here buddy. I'll catch you. I already taught you how to float and do flutter kicks. You can do this. Come on Dylan." He coaxed as my son kept staring at the water from the poolside. 

Tuluyan nang tumalon sa pool si Dylan at matapos ang ilang segundo ay umahon saka kumapit sa leeg ni Terrence. My legs were splashed with water from all of the thrashing but I was unbothered. Lumilipad ang utak ko sa kasong hawak ko kagabi. 

Terrence sat on the chair beside and Dylan followed suit. Tinuwalyahan niya ang ulo ni Dylan at ang anak ko naman ay humagikgik. "One more dive, Uncle T!" 

Tinulak ni Terrence ang platong may lamang meryenda papunta sa harapan ko. "At least eat something. Kanina ka pa nakaupo dito ni hindi mo ginagalaw yang meryenda. Even your bikini is dry, not even a drop of water." 

Napabuntong hininga ako. "I'm just.... so bothered by something." 

Sinubo niya ang isang slice ng apple at ngumuya saglit saka sumagot. "By what? That you're gonna get pregnant?" 

Binato ko siya ng isa pang slice ng apple. "Not that. Kagabi kasi may case ako and until now it bother's me so much. And I know I can't just make assumptions or independent evaluation of course. I need extensive tests and images but the problem is, she's a minor. Kakailanganin ko ng consent ng magulang but my gut feeling tells me there's really something wrong." 

"Now you got me interested. What happened?" He asked.

"Hello, I'm Dr. Kaneda." I sanitized my hands as I approached the patient and introduced myself. "Kamusta ang pakiramdam mo?" I asked the little girl as the father stood a few steps away. 

"Nahulog po ako kaninang nagbibisikleta ako. Ang sakit po ng kaliwang braso ko." She was on the verge of crying when I gently held her left arm riddled with bruises and swollen on one part. 

I beckoned the father over and asked him for an account of what happened but he doesn't know the full story either. According to him, his daughter went out in the later afternoon with her friends tapos paguwi umiiyak na daw at masakit ang braso kasi nagkamali sa pagbibisikleta at tumama ang braso sa semento. I did what I was supposed to do as a doctor based on the information that I was given. 

"Joy, just relax here. Magpapakuha ako ng hospital gown tapos bibihisan ka namin saka lalagyan ng swero, ok? Dadalhin ka namin sa x-ray para makita natin kung may bali yang braso mo tapos tatawag kami ng isa pang doktor, yung espesyalista sa buto para makita natin kung lalagyan ba natin ng cast. Ok lang ba yun?" I caressed the top of her head and she nodded with a teary expression on her face.

It was as if she looked through my soul, silently telling me something I can't decipher. 

"Well? Statistically, your instinct is almost always right. Trust your instinct and try to find out more." Ilang segundo kaming nagtitigan wari nag-uusap nang tahimik. 

I know that he understands what I am trying to imply non-verbally. Iilang tao lang rin ang nakaka-intindi sa silent language ko at kasama na roon si Terrence.