Chapter 8 — The Patient I Saved Twice

The person I'm about to denounce. The person I suspect is an important link in this entire chain. And now... She's sitting right in front of me. Right behind the reception window. What does that mean? That means all my denunciation documents... The first person to receive them was her. Ton Hong seemed to realize I was looking at the nameplate. She smiled.

“Is something wrong?”

“Are you done filling it out yet?”

I bowed my head. But there was a stir in my head. If I give this file to her... Will it actually get to the right place? Or will it be buried right from the first step? Worse yet. If she immediately informed Phuong Thanh and the Deputy Director... Would they take action before I could react? I looked at the form that was only half filled out. Then quietly folded.

“I want to look into it a little more.”

“I'll come back another day.”

Ton Hong just nodded. No doubt. He continued to look down at the computer screen. And I'm holding the file bag. Quickly leave the reception room. I stood in the stairwell for nearly five minutes. Not going anywhere. Just standing there. Hear my heart beating rapidly. This path cannot continue. At least not through the People's Reception Room. Ton Hong was there. My documents are like a piece of meat thrown into the wolf's mouth. Will never go back out. I need another path. That afternoon. I still sit for examination as usual. Come home at night. I sat in front of my desk until late at night. The Department of Health cannot go. Looking for Department leaders? I'm just an ordinary doctor. There was not even a chance to meet. Looking for media? Too risky. Once the incident was pushed to social networks. It's not just them who are affected. My career could also be ruined. Report to the police? Even more difficult. Because of the legal aspect. The line between a claim for compensation and extortion is very thin. I opened the file bag. Review each document over and over again. Until midnight. I think of one person. Trieu Man's husband. My college friend. He works at the city's Discipline Inspection Committee. Not a leader. Just an ordinary officer. But most importantly... Their system is completely independent from the Department of Health. I opened my contacts. Find Trieu Man's number. Finger hovering over the screen for a long time. Ten minutes later. I just pressed call.

“Man Man, it's me, To Nhien.”

“To Nhien?”

Her voice was full of surprise.

"Long time no contact. What's going on?"

“I want to invite you and your husband to dinner.”

“There is something I would like to ask for your opinion on.”

Trieu Man was silent for a few seconds.

“Is something wrong?”

“Why does your voice sound so strange?”

“Let's meet and talk.”

We made an appointment on a weekend night. A small restaurant. I'm the earliest. A moment later. Trieu Man and her husband arrived. His name is Ha Dao. The figure is not tall. The meal began with idle stories like many old meetings. Until the food is served. I put down my chopsticks. Look at the two of them.

"I invited you two here today because there is something I want to consult with Mr. Ha."

Ha Dao raised her head.

“You say it.”

From start to finish. From an eight-hour surgery. Go to the complaint form. Compensation of 200,000 yuan. Chu Chi Minh's boastful post. Three hospitals. Three complaints. The relationship between Phuong Thanh and the Deputy Director. Don't miss any detail. For twenty minutes. Ha Dao did not interrupt. Just listen quietly. Wait until I finish telling you. He just took a bite of food. Put down your chopsticks.

“Do you bring documents with you?”

I immediately handed over the file bag. He opened it to see. Don't say a word. Only when I finished watching did I raise my head.

“What's the name of that vice principal?”

“Ta Quoc Dong.”

“Lawyer Phuong Thanh's wife works in the People's Reception Department of the Department of Health?”

“I only found out the day I arrived.”

Ha Dao closed the file. Glanced at Trieu Man. Trieu Man also stopped picking up food.

“What are you looking at me for?”

“You decide for yourself.”

Ha Dao turned to look at me. The voice was very calm.

“Doctor To.”

“I'll be honest.”

“If this is just a dispute between a doctor and a patient.”

“The Disciplinary Inspection Committee has no basis to intervene.”

My heart sank. But right after that. He continued: His finger tapped lightly on the file bag.

“...if a Deputy Director of a public hospital takes advantage of his position.”

“Collusion with relatives.”

“Using fake complaints to withdraw compensation from the hospital.”

“Then it's no longer a medical dispute.”

I stared at him.

“So what is it?”

Ha Dao replied slowly:

“There are signs of violation of civil service discipline.”

“If the amount is big enough.”

“It may even be related to crimes related to positions.”

I clenched my fists under the table. My heart beat so loudly that I could hear it myself. Ha Dao continued to ask:

“You said more than half of the hospital's compensation disputes in the past three years were signed by him?”

“My dean said so.”

“I don't know the specific number yet.”

“That can be checked.”