Chapter 16 — The White Coat Oath

Three months after the disciplinary session ended, Dr. Phat officially launched the hospital's new patient safety training program - a mandatory course for all resident doctors, focusing on identifying and preventing medical errors, especially in stressful and overloaded working contexts.

The first opening ceremony took place in the large hall, where Dr. Phat stood on the podium, not as the authoritative Dean as before, but with a new humility and much more sincerity.

"I stand here today," he began, his voice low but filled with weight, "not to teach you how to be a perfect doctor who never makes mistakes. I stand here to share with you my own story — the story of a serious mistake I made, and the price I paid for my decision to hide it."

The whole hall was absolutely silent, many eyes could not hide their surprise at that rare frankness from a doctor who once held a high leadership position, the sound of the ceiling fan gently rotating was the only sound that broke the silence.

Yen and Khoa sat in the front row, watching the lecture with deep respect. This was the first time they had witnessed Dr. Phat openly share the entire story in front of many colleagues, not avoiding any painful details.

"My biggest mistake," Dr. Phat continued, "It's not about leaving a piece of surgical gauze behind after a long, tiring surgery. Everyone has their limits, and mistakes in that situation, although regrettable, are still possible. My truly serious mistake was letting fear and personal selfishness overwhelm my professional conscience, causing me to hide the truth instead of facing it and correcting it immediately."

He stopped for a moment, his eyes scanning each young face that was listening attentively. "I spent twenty years of my career building a reputation as a good, dedicated doctor. But in a moment of weakness, I almost lost all of those values, not because of the initial mistake, but because of the way I chose to handle it."

He presented detailed slides on the process of properly identifying and reporting errors, emphasizing the importance of building a blame-free safety culture where doctors can proactively report errors without fear of harsh punishment, as long as the action comes from honesty and a desire to correct, rather than negligence or willful irresponsibility.

"I want you to remember," he concluded the lecture, his voice filled with passion, "the Hippocratic oath we take when entering the medical profession is not only a promise not to harm patients, but also a promise to always be honest and transparent, even when that truth is hardest to face."

The lecture ended in long applause, not because of perfection, but because of the rare sincerity that Dr. Phat demonstrated. Many young resident doctors came to see him afterward, sharing their own worries and pressures, finding in him an understanding listener.

A first-year resident doctor, with a young face, timidly approached Dr. Phat after the crowd had dispersed. "Teacher, I want to ask... if I ever almost made a small mistake during a shift, but luckily discovered it in time before causing consequences, should I report it? I'm afraid I will be judged as incompetent."

Dr. Phat looked at the young student with eyes full of understanding. "You should report, not to be punished, but so that the whole system can learn from the near-miss. That's called 'near-miss' in patient safety terms — lessons that are just as valuable as the mistakes that actually happened."

"Thank you, teacher," the student bowed his head, his eyes less worried. "I will report back today."

Witnessing that conversation, Yen couldn't help but feel moved. “This is exactly the safety culture we aim for,” she whispered to Khoa. "A place where students dare to share frankly, without fear of being judged."

"You did very well," Khoa said when he found Dr. Phat after the lecture. "I couldn't hide my pride." "I think today's lecture will leave a deep impression on many young doctors."

"Thank you," Dr. Phat replied, his eyes were filled with unprecedented relief since the day the incident was discovered. "I feel that this is truly the most meaningful way to atone — not just to endure punishment in silence, but to turn my painful experience into a valuable lesson for the next generation."

Yen, standing next to Khoa, also contributed, her voice full of respect. "I think your story will help many young doctors be more courageous in admitting and reporting errors, instead of hiding them out of fear. That is the most important foundation for building a truly safe medical system."

Dr. Phat nodded, looking at both of them with deep respect. "If it weren't for the courage of the two of you that day, I would probably forever be immersed in torment and regret without ever having the chance to redeem myself in a meaningful way like today."

He looked into the distance, his eyes filled with thought. "I also received news that the Department of Internal Medicine and Obstetrics are also considering inviting me to share a similar lecture with their team. Perhaps, my heartbreaking story will finally find a much more positive meaning than I ever dared to hope."

"I'm very happy to hear that, teacher," Khoa said, his voice sincere. "Believe me, the more people who hear your story, the more similar mistakes can be prevented in the future."

Dr. Phat smiled, a rare smile of relief since the day the incident was discovered. "Thank you two, again. I think this is the clearest proof that, even from the most serious mistakes, people can still find a way to correct and create positive value for others."

That evening, as they both walked home after a long day of work, Khoa suddenly stopped, grabbed Yen's hand, his eyes full of seriousness.

"Yen, I have something to ask you," he said, his voice unusually nervous.

"What do you want to ask?" Yen looked at him, curious at that unusual attitude, slowing her steps to match Khoa's pace.

"After completing the residency program," Khoa said, "do you have any plans for the future? I mean... do you think about us continuing together, not just in work, but in life as well?"

Yen smiled, realizing the deep meaning in that question. "I've thought about that a lot, Khoa. And my answer is always yes — I want you to be a part of all my future plans."

Khoa breathed a sigh of relief, a bright smile appeared on his lips. "Then, I think, it's time for me to prepare something more special to ask you a much more important question," Khoa said, his eyes sparkling with a rare mischief mixed with seriousness.

Yen blushed, understanding the hidden meaning of those words, but did not ask further, just smiled happily, held Khoa's hand tightly and continued on the way home under the warm yellow streetlight of a rare peaceful evening amidst busy days.

Returning to her small apartment, Yen immediately called Minh Thu, unable to contain her excitement to share. "Sir, I think Khoa just secretly proposed a marriage proposal."

"What?!" Minh Thu shouted excitedly over the phone. "Tell me the details, don't hide anything!"

Yen recounted the entire conversation, her voice still filled with emotion. "I don't know for sure, but the way he talks, the way he looks at me... I feel like he's preparing for something much bigger."

"Oh my god, it's finally time," Minh Thu chuckled. "I've been waiting for this moment for a long time. You two are a perfect match, ever since the day we had a heated argument during the shift."

"Don't mention that again," Yen laughed, her cheeks still pink. "But honestly, I didn't expect things to go this far."

"Life is always full of surprises," Minh Thu replied, her voice full of philosophy. "Congratulations in advance, even though it's not official yet. Remember to let me know as soon as you have any news!"

Hanging up the phone, Yen lay down on the bed, looking up at the ceiling, her heart filled with an indescribable feeling of happiness at what the future could bring, along with the man who had accompanied her through so many ups and downs over the past time.