|
|
In Short: Dr. Geiger clashes with the hospital's executive committee after he performs an experimental procedure on a deceased patient. Dr. Shutt takes on a hapless HMO representative who insists that a less experienced, (and less expensive) surgeon perform a complex operation.
Guest Starring: Kim Griest (as Laurie Geiger), Paul Dooley (as Walter McTeague), and Lynne Moody (as Yvette White)
Story: David E. Kelley
Teleplay:
Directed By: Michael Dinner
TOP Summary:Jeffrey clashes with a young doctor who seems to have let a woman die too easily. He asks her husband, McTeague, if he can test a new artificial heart on her. Distraught, he agrees. Jeffrey asks Winslow, a doctor assisting on his procedure, to go out with him on a toilet fettish; she agrees. Arthur begs for his job back--if he can't operate, he'll die. Aaron sees a young mother with a massive tumor, a neurofiber sarcoma, and if she doesn't have it removed she'll die. But even if the operation is successful she may be permanently blind. Phillip informs Jeffrey McTeague is suing him, but the device does work.
Aaron wonders about Jeffrey dating Winslow--he's still married to institutionalized Laurie. McTeague confronts Jeffrey and spits on him, then Phillip tells Geiger he's going before the executive committee. Then he goes head to head with Thurmond, who will not remove his finger when Jeffrey asks him to get it out of his face so he bites it, which doesn't look good to the executive committee. He reminds the committee that the rule for consulting the subject protection committee before doing human experimentation diesn't apply if the next of kin gives consent. A HMO provider, Saunders, won't let Aaron do Mrs. White's surgery even though it's an extremely difficult procedure. He wants to meet with Euclid Park's neurosurgeon. At dinner with Winslow Jeffrey sees Camille on a date and ruins it.
Aaron asks Alan to help him with the HMO guy. Jeffrey gives Arthur a prescription that will cure the shakes that have kept him from operating. Alan tells them that even the smallest complication resulting from the procedure if the other surgeon does it will result in a lawsuit since Aaron has expressed reservations. In the end, it would be cheaper for them to let Aaron do it. Saunders reluctantly agrees. Jeffrey refuses to apologize to the board and Phillip warns him he may lose his job for it. Aaron tries to tell Jeffrey it'll never work with Winslow, or anyone else, because he'll never divorce Laurie.
Yvette White's children say goodbye to her and she's taken into surgery. Aron promises her he won't let her die. McTeague tells Jeffrey that his wife didn't need to test his device to count for something. Jeffrey apologizes to the committee--not for bypassing their rules, but for devaluing a human life. Arthur sticks up for him. Jeffrey apologizes to Camille too.
Yvette's surgery goes fine, but they're not sure about her eyesight. "I saw the light", she says--Aaron realizes she means the light he's shining in her eyes. Jeffrey goes to visit Laurie. She apologizes for drowning their son and he comforts her.
TOP Facts:Song: I dreamed a Dream (from the musical: Les Miserables - 1987) can be found on Mandy's CD "Experiment".
TOP Quotes:AARON: There's no charming way of telling someone they're going to die.
PHILLIP: Excuse me, are you crazy?
JEFFREY: A little. Thorazine (sp?) helps.ARTHUR: Do you know what I think?
JEFFREY: No but if you concentrate I'm sure it'll come to you.PHILLIP: I find in these situations it's best to breathe deeply and count to five.
CAMILLE: I have taken all the crap I am going to from you!
JEFFREY: I've got so much more to give!JEFFREY: You'll be able to operate again, kill people the old-fashioned way--with negligence.
ALAN: Bottom line, it is cheaper for you to let Dr. Shutt and Chicago Hope do this procedure. Cheaper. Let me say it once more, cheaper. Twice more--cheaper, cheaper. And as an afterthought, the patient will have a better chance of surviving. Of course, don't let that notion distract you from the real issue--cheaper.
JEFFREY: I'm sorry. I said that twice today. It's a new record.
When Jeffrey visits Laurie in the clinic:
"Laurie had a bad week. She bit someone."
"So did I." Jeffrey replies.
TOP Transcripts:Jeffrey asks Nadine out to facilitate a public bowel movement
JEFFREY: I get you twice this week, Winslow, to what do I owe the pleasure?
NADINE: Luck.
JEFFREY: I dont want to sound blunt, Winslow, but I've always been uncomfortable using public restrooms. Anyway there's this new restaurant on Russ Street, Thompson's? It's supposed to have these incredible facilities, made to practically induce regularity. I was thinking that's probably the perfect place to conquer my little phobia. Except you can't use the facilities unless you're a patron, and I got another thing about eating alone. Have dinner with me tonight? You can wear something nice.
NADINE: I beg your pardon?
JEFFREY: I can pick you up here.
NADINE: You just asked me out to facilitate a public bowel movement.
JEFFREY: What I'm detecting in your voice, Doctor, shock, surprise, maybe even a little outrage. That's the thing about bluntness. It intimidates the weak and engages the strong. If I've overestimated you I sincerely apologize.JEFFREY: Before you begin could I just say one thing? Because I think it's important.
HACKETT: What?
JEFFREY: You have a little booger hanging.
HACKETT: I've witnessed you in surgery, Doctor, I admire your talent. Unfortunately you've come to believe somehow that you are bigger than this hospital and that is a gross misjudgement.
JEFFREY: I acted in the interests of medical development, which I believe is commencerate with the goals of Chicago Hope.
HACKETT: I'm hearing a very unapologetic tone. Before any artificial device is used for experimentation you are required to appear before the subject protection committee.
JEFFREY: An exception being consent from next of kin.
HACKETT: A grieving spouse moments after the fact has no capacity to give real consent and you know that. The man's wife just died, he was in shock and you used reprehensible duress. Aside from a despicable lack of sensitivity it was ethically debase.
JEFFREY: Look, I could argue that mankind was more served than insulted by testing my device, I could perhaps avail myself of the Hippocratic Oath which I also believe would favor interest of life versus dignity of death. But I realize I'm sitting before the executive committee, a panel that never bothers to factor humanity or ethics or even compassion into its decision making. It's all about regulations. Legislation, policy, that's all that matters. So let's get right to the procedural handbook. Chapter 14, paragraph 5: Human Experimentation. "Authorization from the subject protection committee need not be obtained in the case of a deceased subject whereby the next of kin has provided consent." You claim his capacity to consent was compromised. Problem is, you weren't there. I was. Bottom line: you can't get me on this one. Now, as for biting Dr. Thurmond, there's nothing in the handbook whick expressly prohibits it, I read it twice. Am I sorry, of course I am. Is there a lesson to be learned, absolutely. Keep your fingers away from my mouth. Don't ever try to feed me. Especially what you've been feeding me here!
(He leaves)
PHILLIP: I find in these situations its best to breathe deeply and count to five.FERENGER: I've assisted on this procedure three times.
AARON: Assisted. You've never actually performed it yourself.
SAUNDERS: Tell me, Dr. Shutt, what was the result the first time you did this operation?
AARON: It was successful.
SAUNDERS: But you won't allow for that possibility with Dr. Ferenger.
AARON: Of course I do. But given the difficulty and the risk of the procedure, I want Mrs. White to have every conceivable advantage.
SAUNDERS: Dr. Ferenger, will Yvette White be taken care of?
FERENGER: Yes.
AARON: I just can't help but feeling that the welfare of the patient is secondary to your need for cost-control.
ALAN: Excuse me, forgive me Aaron, I know I'm supposed to be on your side here, but you have really screwed them! I think unfairly.
AARON: I beg your pardon?
ALAN: You have guaranteed a lawsuit against them.
SAUNDERS: What are you talking about?
ALAN: Patients sue all the time Mr. Saunders. Even if Dr. Ferenger successfully removes the tumor there's still a likelihood of blindness. If not then maybe some paralysis, maybe just a facial tic or two. Whatever. The patient is already predisposed to think she did not get the best treatment because of Dr. Shutt's reservations. The complaint's already being drafted, I promise you.
SAUNDERS: What if there's no negligence?
ALAN: It doesn't matter. Now think about this: we have a doctor going on the record before the operation saying "I have doubts". Then the HMO goes forward anyhow? And HMOs have all the sympathetic appeal of insurance companies as far as juries go. You're dead. (laughs) Even if that man performs expertly you will be sued. Ooh, God, I just thought of something else. Suppose it comes out during trial that doctors at HMO facilities feel pressured to say they can perform certain procedures that they know deep down they cannot. I'm not saying that's what happened here, Doctor, I'm sure you're an honorable mam. But if the jury thinks that's what happened, imagine the punatives they'll tack onto the verdict. Bottom line Mr. Saunders, which I know you're devoted to, it is cheaper for you to let Dr. Shutt and Chicago Hope do this procedure. Cheaper. Let me say it once more--cheaper. Twice more--cheaper, cheaper. And as an afterthought, the patient will have a better chance of surviving. Of course don't let that notion distract you from the real issue--cheaper. Oh, one more thing, and then I will shut up, I promise. If that woman is not operated on at Chicago Hope, I will give her or her estate, depending on how good he is, everything they need to crucify you. I will testify that from my vantage point, I saw a penny-pinching corporate cow, computing how much more fiscally responsible it would be for a patient to die in his hospital than survive in another. And I'll make sure Dr. Ferenger is subpoenaed and put on the stand, if for no other reason than so the jury can see his face, so they can see the expression that I'm seeing right now, the expression that says "I should not be performing this operation!" Well, have a look at his face, Mr. Saunders. Take a good look. That's your boy.
SAUNDERS: Maybe the woman would be better off here.
This page has been visited
times.
