A Man with Nerves of Steel (Joseph Hart) novel Chapter 168

Chapter 168

“Joseph, if you really have a way to wake Frank’s wife and child, you shouldn’t keep it to yourself. As doctors, we’re supposed to put personal grudges aside and do our duty to save lives.”

Joseph hadn’t expected Walt to come looking for him, much less try to guilt-trip him with professional ethics, Joseph replied, “Dr. Loughlin, you know me better than most, so why are you saying that? What exactly do you

too? expect me to do? If Frank’s wife and kid never wake up, are you going to pin the blame on me,

“The ICU has the highest mortality rate in the entire hospital. Does that mean every death should be blamed on the doctors or our department?”

Walt demanded, “Just answer me clearly. Do you have a way or not?”

Joseph leaned back into his chair. “I do have an idea, but the question is the success rate. I told Frank there isn’t even a ten percent chance of success. Did he tell you I could guarantee recovery? That’s very irresponsible of him”

Walt pressed. “What kind of treatment plan is it?”

Joseph shrugged. “I haven’t thought about everything yet. I’ll still need to organize a consultation if he signs the consent form. With odds that low, I’m going to be a little more conservative.”

Walt frowned. “Just tell me about it first.”

Joseph shook his head. “It’s an immature idea that’s not fit to be presented.”

Joseph refused to indulge Walt. Instead, he reassigned several of the Ashmore family’s burn patients to Walt’s doctoral and master’s students, making them the primary physicians responsible for those cases.

After work, Joseph found Cora already at home. Following dinner, he spent some time in the playroom with Kimberly before turning in early.

They were not intimate that night. He had no interest in talking to Cora, either.

Over the next two days, Frank failed to provide Joseph with any useful information. So, Joseph continued insisting that his treatment plan was still in its infancy and that the chances of sucéess were too low. He suggested that Frank transfer the patients elsewhere.

Frank was furious and cursed Joseph repeatedly before asking Cora to persuade Joseph.

Instead, their anger and resentment were directed toward whoever had caused the fire.

That afternoon, a wild piece of news spread through the hospital’s internal chat groups. Walt had allegedly molested a female patient during a consultation and had been taken to the police station for questioning.

When Joseph emerged from the emergency room, Dave immediately dragged him into an office to discuss the situation.

So Yvonne and Lacey actually went through with it…

Even though Joseph knew about it, he still feigned complete shock. He emphasized that he was just a regular doctor with no real authority and would just comply with whatever arrangements the hospital made.

Dave asked, “Joseph, be honest with me. Will the Lowells step in and save Walt?”

Joseph shrugged. “I don’t know, they’re not my family. But from what I understand of Cora, probably not. She has more important problems to deal with right now. With this problem with Dr. Loughlin, isn’t it about time Dr. Quinn makes her appearance?”

Dave nodded. “I think this is exactly the opportunity Dr. Quinn has been waiting for.”