This doctor is already middle-aged, and he's only just started practicing medicine.

Chapter 207 Ordinary and Bland
"The saying 'good wine needs no bush' doesn't even hold true in clinical practice, let alone in other areas," Lu Cheng said naturally, his expression unchanged.

Mu Nanshu's experience in clinical practice and medicine is not as good as Lu Cheng's; her knowledge is limited to the "mysteries and superstitions" within the scientific research community!
Mu Nanshu wasn't stupid; she could roughly understand what Lu Cheng meant: "From what you're saying, it seems you still harbor resentment towards your current director?"

"Didn't you say that Director Du was playing along with your act?"

Lu Cheng nodded: "Acting is for outsiders to see, and outsiders believe it after watching it."

"Focus on the issue, not the person."

"Although what Uncle Du is doing now is to solve some of my troubles, for example, our previous director of the emergency department, Director Lin Qianlong, has gone to Feng County, but he is still constantly in trouble."

"I have to come back every now and then to solve some problems."

"But this all means that within the county, as long as you act, everything can be covered up."

"What you can see from above are the practical things, and you don't consider other things."

Mu Nanshu had been with Lu Cheng in Long County for several months and had seen many things along the way.

These things must have happened when Mu Nanshu was in junior high and high school, but at that time, she didn't pay any attention to them.

In fact, if Lu Cheng hadn't worked at the county hospital, Mu Nanshu wouldn't have been able to focus her attention on him.

Everyone's perspective is limited to their own circle of knowledge. Even if they have some understanding of things outside their circle, it won't be particularly profound.

Mu Nanshu said, "Don't think about it too much. Didn't you say before that you can't change the environment you created?"

Lu Cheng said, "At first, that's what I thought too, out of sight, out of mind."

“But a few days ago…” Lu Cheng hesitated.

“A few days ago, Brother Zhang from our department told me that some patients’ families had asked about this matter.”

"But there's nothing Brother Zhang can do. Some surgeries just can't be done if they don't want you to."

"Zhang Tiesheng said that although the family members were cursing and swearing, there was nothing else they could do."

"Of course, there's nothing I can do about this situation."

"Perhaps, if technology advances too fast, it will put us in a moral dilemma."

“Bookworm, let me ask you this: If a patient dies, and you know you can save them, but the rules and procedures don't allow you to, and your superiors and leaders also forbid it, what would you do?”

Mu Nanshu replied without hesitation: "Follow the rules and procedures."

Lu Cheng only told Mu Nanshu later that during the selection examination, he encountered a situation of "outward compliance but inward resistance," where someone was using the inspection team's influence in Xiangzhou to cause trouble for their own underlings.

Lu Cheng was just a hair's breadth away from falling victim to the trap.

Later, Lu Cheng analyzed that if the inspection team that came this time was a medical inspection team, then their expertise would be a perfect match, and Lu Cheng and Lin Qianlong would have to confront the issue of 'beyond their scope of practice' head-on.

The reason it went unnoticed that time was because neither the higher authorities nor the lower authorities investigated it!

If your superiors don't investigate you, and your patients and family members don't report you, then no one will specifically target you or go through any extreme procedural justice process to ruin you.

Except in case of problems!

"Even with the procedures and rules completed, you still can't continue your duty of saving lives for various reasons?" Lu Cheng asked again.

"What do you mean?" Mu Nanshu felt that Lu Cheng's words had a hidden meaning.

Lu Cheng said, "You bookworm, your understanding of clinical technological innovation is not thorough enough. New technological innovation can be divided into two categories: new surgical techniques and operational optimization."

"The new technique requires all preparatory procedures to be completed."

"But operational optimization is not necessary. Any physician at the associate senior level or above can optimize the operation based on their own experience."

"For example, tendon suturing. In clinical practice, there are such procedures. The techniques you use to suture patients will be endorsed by the clinic."

"Similarly, spleen suturing is also a standard procedure. The current spleen suturing technique is simply an optimization of the original suturing procedure."

Upon hearing this, Mu Nanshu immediately raised her voice: "Then under such circumstances, why does Director Du still refuse to let you do it?"

"What was he thinking about?"

In other words, it was understandable that Lu Cheng couldn't do it for part of last month, but if he still doesn't do it now, it's no longer a situation of 'absolutely impossible'.

"Director Du told me not to make a fuss, but to remain silent."

"Currently, the structure of the People's Hospital is in a mess. The former president, Director Peng of the Orthopedics Department, and the director of the Laboratory Department have all received clear replies from the higher-level discipline inspection departments."

“Some of the senior doctors who were not department heads and were ‘connected’ to these people were also implicated.”

"Therefore, almost all departments in the hospital are currently facing a shortage of personnel, and the number of surgeries, treatments, and outpatient visits are all decreasing sharply."

"The hospital doesn't allow this data, and neither does the health bureau. So, under these circumstances, any doctor with some ability who wants to leave in some form will not be allowed to."

"Take Dr. Tian Shan, the deputy chief physician of orthopedics, for example. He does have some financial problems, but he is the only face of our hospital's sports medicine department."

"He wasn't even the head of the department; he was just given a mild, painless lashing."

Upon hearing this, Mu Nanshu asked curiously, "What about Peng Kun from the orthopedics department?"

Lu Cheng replied, "Peng Kun doesn't need to make money, so he's not involved in any economic issues."

"However, the medical dispute over tendon suturing that Peng Kun and Director Peng handled together has been brought up again."

"The tea cools when the person leaves, but gets scalding hot when someone comes in..."

Mu Nanshu pondered for a moment before saying, "Lu Cheng, although the current situation is different from your initial vision of a medical career, it will only be temporary."

Lu Cheng smiled and said, "Yes, I wouldn't dare say these things to anyone else, not even my parents."

"Actually, I'm not complaining to you, I just want to share what I've seen with you."

"Under any regulation, ordinary people and patients are relatively vulnerable groups, and they are the ultimate bearers of all medical supplies, rules, and reforms."

“This time, I will go into more depth than I have seen in orthopedics before.”

"But we are just ordinary people, so we have to follow the rules and we are slowly worn down by the daily routine."

"I thought about it seriously. In fact, doctors like us are just individuals, and just small people. We can't withstand any setbacks. A single valid complaint from a patient can ruin our careers."

“A single accountability review by higher authorities can also ruin our careers.”

“I used to say, ‘Always try to heal, always try to help, always try to comfort.’ Now I’ll add one more thing: ‘Leave it to fate!’”

As they were talking, Lu Cheng took Mu Nanshu to the underground parking lot of her residential complex in Jilin City.

After parking, Mu Nanshu got out of the car: "You can go back now. I'm going upstairs too. I'll continue working tomorrow."

"Okay~" Lu Cheng nodded and drove away.

Actually, once I've expressed some of my thoughts, I don't feel so pressured anymore.

If Lu Cheng has the ability to save patients but cannot intervene, it is not Lu Cheng's fault.

Moreover, Lu Cheng knew that even if they could save people, it would only be a few.

What Lu Cheng was referring to was not spleen-preserving surgery, which only preserves organs, not lives, but is for patients with aortic dissection.

If Lu Cheng had chosen to add points, he could definitely have saved the patient, but Lu Cheng didn't have that authority.

For patients who have had their spleen removed, who are not in mortal danger, Lu Cheng wouldn't be so emotionally sensitive.

Whether you take action or not, you can't fundamentally change the overall environment.

The main problem is that the standard surgery for aortic dissection is too difficult, and it is too difficult for surgeons in grassroots hospitals to learn it.

If only this kind of surgery could be simplified...

After returning home, Lu Cheng continued to spend time with his parents, eating sunflower seeds and fruit, and chatting, as if they had returned to how they were six months ago.

However, this time, Lu Nanjia is not as young as before.

Du Qiang came to Lu Cheng's house and made it clear to Lu Cheng and the elderly couple that he would "reduce" Lu Cheng's presence in the clinic, and that it was not a deliberate attempt to target him.

Lu Cheng has been confirmed to be transferred to the State People's Hospital, which is a very 'happy' thing for the elderly couple.

Tian Hui, in particular, is now more willing to go downstairs to chat with people often...

For most people in Yulong County, it is a source of great pride for parents to have their children admitted to state-run hospitals like the State People's Hospital.

……

After ending the chat, Lu Cheng went into his study and started a video call.

It was Professor Chen Song who called via video. On the other end of the video were two other people, Chen Song's doctoral and master's students, who had been called by Chen Song to Jilin City to help.

Dr. Tao Shibin, Chen Song's doctor, was responsible for reporting the postoperative half-month suture data and the CT imaging data of the organs. Liao Hanwen, Chen Song's master's student, was responsible for organizing the meeting's discussion content.

Chen Song frowned slightly and said, "Lu Cheng, the results of this animal experiment are quite different from the suture data of pig pancreas."

"If it were an excised organ, the data after suturing would definitely be much better than the current data."

Lu Cheng replied, "Professor Chen, didn't you say before that you would contact a skilled person to make standard animal models?"

"I think it's still the same old problem we've been talking about: the animal models aren't standardized enough. The spleen injury we manually created isn't a standard spleen injury at all; it's a bit overkill."

"Therefore, the measurement data after suturing is not good enough."

Chen Song lowered his arrogant chin and said, "Well, actually, you, Teacher Chen, are just so-so in the industry."

"At our current level, we can't afford to hire such professionals. I've contacted several, but their schedules are all fully booked."

"The research groups they collaborate with are basically composed of senior professors, national-level experts, and even academicians. They simply can't spare the time."

"How did Zhang Xibei, the guy you and Xiao Mu contacted before, respond?" Chen Song's boast had backfired, so he had no choice but to admit it openly.

In Long County and in Hunan Province, Associate Professor Chen Song's name is quite influential.

But looking at the entire medical community in China, the associate professors at Xiangya No. 2 Hospital are just not looked down upon; they are nothing special.

There are far too many medical professionals who are more famous and capable than Chen Song.

Lu Cheng said, "Yes, Teacher Chen, it's like this. Although we went to Brother Zhang's place, he was quite busy and didn't get to chat with us for more than a few minutes."

"However, he said he would come to our city of Jilin next Monday, and we are still trying to persuade him to come."

"Professor Chen, animal experiments on solid organs are much more difficult to conduct than animal experiments on tendon, nerve, and blood vessel injuries."

"Professor Tong's side is progressing much faster."

Chen Song said irritably, "It doesn't matter if I lose a limb, but when it comes to model making, you can just chop it up with a knife, okay?"

"If you don't believe me, why don't you let Tong Yuan'an and the others build a damage model themselves and see?"

Lu Cheng's question was indeed a bit unprofessional. In the field of scientific research, he was a complete novice, having moved beyond the level of a complete novice but not yet having truly mastered the basics.

"Professor Chen, don't worry, this topic can be done slowly. If it really doesn't work, we can first explore the differences between spleen suturing and liver suturing."

“Spleen preservation surgery is a supplement to spleen removal surgery, but liver preservation surgery is absolutely the core surgery of general surgery,” Lu Cheng suddenly said.

Chen Song cursed, "Lu Cheng, don't you dare cause me any trouble."

"Things should be done one step at a time, and food should be eaten one bite at a time. I know you're amazing. You caught the wave of the boom in hand surgery and general surgery, and you're very good at improving suturing techniques."

"But you can't just jump around like that with your research. Don't start thinking about eating seafood when you haven't even had breakfast yet."

Chen Song's doctoral and master's students trembled and dared not speak. They watched helplessly as Lu Cheng and their teacher went back and forth.

After Chen Song finished ranting, Chen Song's doctor, Tao Shibin, suggested, "Master, Professor Lu, why don't we take a break first? We can talk again tomorrow?"

"We're stuck at this point for now, and there's no point in dwelling on it any longer."

Chen Song waved his hand: "Let's leave it at that for now."

"Tao Shibin, you should also check your classmates' group and see if there are any people who specialize in animal testing models. Try to recruit them."

“In our time, there was no such professional group at all.”

Lu Cheng: "..."

……

The next day, Lu Cheng arrived at the hospital early and began his usual shift handover and ward rounds!

Tian Zhuang worked the day shift in the ward, obediently following behind Lu Cheng, recording all sorts of detailed information, including but not limited to medical orders and follow-up test results.

As soon as Lu Cheng finished checking the rooms, he discovered that Tian Zhuang had already prepared coffee, drinks, and snacks.

Lu Cheng was quite surprised, as Tian Zhuang had taken a long time to learn how to prepare coffee and drinks.

Tian Zhuang was still very bold and direct: "Brother Lu, it was Brother Zhang who told me that you like to eat these."

"I'm going to write up the medical records. You can eat slowly."

"You've got money now?" Lu Cheng joked with Tian Zhuang.

Upon hearing this, Tian Zhuang hesitated and turned back, saying, "Brother Lu, Brother Zhang said that if you want to teach, it would cost around ten thousand yuan for just a few lessons. I don't have that much money."

"I'll come find you again once I've saved enough!"

Lu Cheng became increasingly certain that men have courage, and Tian Zhuang in the past might not have been completely indifferent to human relationships and social customs, but his finances were controlled by his family.

Unable to come up with any money and lacking any cunning, he could only passively play the role of a straightforward "boy": "I don't need the money, just don't let your brothers cause me any trouble."

Tian Zhuang said, "No, Brother Lu."

"Both of them, one has only been out for a short time, and the other has already sold his house. Now they are both out looking for work."

Hearing the hint of sadness in Tian Zhuang's voice, Lu Cheng offered a word of comfort: "Tian Zhuang, they are older than you. For people their age, unless they are born into wealth, it is only natural for them to go out and work. It's not something you created."

"Didn't you earn your money by working?"

Tian Zhuang spoke as if his brother was pitiful for going out to work.

Tian Zhuang nodded: "Brother Lu, I'm going to write the medical records. My performance bonus last month was higher than before!"

Although Tian Zhuang has not yet mastered all tendon suturing techniques, his performance bonus will definitely be higher than his previous average performance bonus, thanks to the tendon suturing surgery.

The more you work, the more you earn!

Lu Cheng sat down in the doctors' lounge, and just as he opened his general surgery textbook, he received a message on his phone.

It was a message from Xie Yuan'an. Xie Yuan'an had already finished the draw, and the first event she would participate in was the spleen suturing track, in the second group. She, on the other hand, had made it into the sixth group in the tendon suturing track.

At the same time, Tong Yuan'an also took the initiative to share with Lu Cheng the group information of Han Yunshen and others.

Xie Yuan'an suddenly said, "Lu Cheng, I'm so disappointed. It seems that neither Qin Guangbo nor Liu Chan made it into the national competition."

"I asked around for their names, but no one recognized them."

Lu Cheng: "???"

"You investigated me?"

Qin Guangbo and Liu Chan are names that few people know are related to Lu Cheng.

They were the two brothers who took the master's exam in the same year as Lu Cheng.

"Mu Nanshu told me that; I went directly to her to investigate."

"But I've also found out another piece of information. Would you be interested in hearing it?" Xie Yuan'an was very gossipy.

Lu Cheng said, "Go on."

"I heard that one of your two buddies is having trouble graduating. Does that make you happy?"

Xie Yuan'an also sent a picture of a microphone being used in an interview.

“Not interested,” Lu Cheng said.

Lu Cheng didn't think that much about it. There are plenty of people who can't graduate after enrolling in doctoral or master's programs. It's not necessarily because they're bad. Some people might have bad plans during their doctoral studies and might have to extend their studies.

After all, if you start with a very difficult topic, you may not be able to produce a thesis before graduation and thus fail to meet the graduation requirements.

"That's not very interesting," Xie Yuan'an said, seemingly a little disappointed.

"I'm really not interested. After all, no matter what, at least they had the process of studying, while I have nothing."

“Even if they delay their studies, they will most likely still be able to obtain their degrees normally, while I will remain just an ordinary student,” Lu Cheng said.

"That's true."

Xie Yuan'an continued, "But you're no ordinary person. If it weren't for you, someone my age wouldn't have been able to easily make it to the semi-finals."

"Qin Guangbo is a trauma surgeon, and he has already extended his studies, so it's understandable that he couldn't get into the national competition. Liu Chan is a hand surgeon, and he has also graduated, but he didn't participate either. It seems that Huashan Hospital isn't as amazing as people say."

Lu Cheng: "..."

Every place has its gods, but most people are actually just ordinary people.

(End of this chapter)