Coma Page #3

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ran a test on the wrong patient.

Let's go home.

I think you're tired.

I think I'd better check

the tissue-typing lab.

Why?

Nancy's problem was not caused

by wrong lab tests.

I know.

Honey, you're grabbing at straws.

Let's go have some dinner.

- I'm not hungry.

- We'll check the lab later.

Stop acting as if

there's something wrong with me...

...or the way I'm thinking!

I'm checking the lab now.

They're closed.

I won't just stand here!

Susan, the lab is closed.

It closed at six 6:00.

Is she all right?

Yeah, she just...

She likes to do things

her own way.

Who's that?

Dr. Wheeler.

We're closed.

We don't do any determinations

after six, doctor.

I want to look at

your requisition book.

What does it mean when there's

no name and number on the slip?

There's...

There's always

a name or a number, doctor.

For example, Nancy Greenly.

You did tissue-typing...

...but there's no physician name

and billing number.

Let me see.

Yes, you see, it's been

printed out by computer.

That's hospital policy.

A certain number of these tests

are randomly ordered by computer...

...as a quality check.

We do the tests here,

they're sent out...

...and done again by an outside lab.

The computer ordered

this test on Greenly?

Yeah, central computer.

Why don't you just show me?

- I can't.

- Why not?

I'm not supposed to.

It's really important.

Anyway, that information

isn't coded.

If it isn't coded,

I can't pull it out.

I mean, who would want it?

Well, let's say I wanted a list

of all the patients...

...who had tissue-typing

in the last month.

Same thing. Not coded.

What do you do?

What good is all this equipment?

I thought you recorded information.

We do, but the truth is, we install

these computers to bill patients.

We code patient name and number,

medical or surgical...

...admission diagnosis,

therapy and discharge diagnosis.

Okay, wait a minute.

Can you give me a list

of all surgical patients...

...with discharge diagnoses of coma?

Okay, we have...

...one general category

under "coma"...

...and nine subcategories

under "brain syndromes. "

Good.

I want a list

of all surgical patients...

...with general category

of coma in the past year.

You're sure you want it?

I had no idea.

It's a big hospital.

Are you married or what?

Thank you.

Surgical ICU. That's right.

Where'd you get this?

It's against the law.

It's illegal to tap a data bank.

I don't see why.

I'm a doctor.

- I've got research...

- That's not the point!

Every officer got the lecture.

No access without authorization.

- They can throw you out.

- Never mind that.

"Never mind"?

Look at this.

Two hundred and forty names.

Ten are young people

admitted for minor procedures.

Breast biopsy, appendectomy.

They all come out in a coma.

Aren't you surprised?

The risk of surgical anesthesia

is six per 100,000.

In a hospital this size, 10 patients

in a year is not surprising.

So what are you doing?

You missed your rounds.

You didn't scrub in at the gastrectomy.

I had to do something.

Why don't you do your job?

Mr. Murphy is a 35-year-old

in good health...

...admitted for a meniscectomy.

He's scheduled for this morning.

Promises, promises.

They keep telling me...

...there's a delay, another half-hour.

Well, the suspense

is really killing me.

I thought you doctors

liked to operate.

- We'll get to you.

- I'd hate to be left out.

How did you get your injury?

Playing touch football.

You know, with the guys,

horsing around.

Dr. Wheeler, see Dr. Harris.

See Dr. Harris in his office.

The chief of surgery himself.

Playing touch football, huh?

Yeah. So I come in,

and all that happens...

Thanks very much, Herb.

We'll get together on it later.

Would you come in?

Excuse me.

Sit down, Sue.

It's Senator Brooke's office.

He wonders if you can

change the meeting to four.

Yes, four is fine.

Notify Henry.

Yes, sir.

I like to think that Boston Memorial

is the best hospital in the city...

...perhaps in the country.

I'm committed to it...

...to the house staff we have here,

and to you.

I think you know that.

But we have certain constraints

imposed on us.

One is the state law concerning

privacy in computer data access.

An unauthorized entry was made

last night.

We put the young man on probation.

But he told us he made

the illegal entry on your behalf.

That's true.

All the discharge diagnoses

of coma over a 12-month period?

- I wanted it because I had an idea...

- Well, forgive me.

But it isn't a question

of why you wanted it...

...it's how you got it.

I understand you have personal reasons

for being under stress...

...for not acting as carefully

as you might.

And I'm sympathetic to the way

you must feel about...

...the Greely case.

Greenly. Nancy Greenly.

Greenly. Yes, Nancy Greenly case.

I certainly don't want to lose

a good surgical resident.

I think we can handle this, Sue.

I'll keep the evidence...

...and we'll forget

it ever happened, all right?

But I'd like you to see someone.

I was thinking of Dick Morelind.

Dr. Harris, I'm fine.

I don't need a shrink.

No, no, I know you don't.

But it's important to have

on record a talk with Dick Morelind.

- I don't see why.

- Actually...

...it's a precondition to

your continuing on here at Memorial.

I understand.

I think it's unfair.

Everybody's on my back.

Mark's whining about

how I can't make a commitment...

...and I'm cold,

and I'm afraid of intimacy.

Then this happens to Nancy...

...and she's my best friend

since boarding school.

Everyone jumps on my back,

acts like I'm neurotic...

...and I'm not doing my job!

There's concern about

breaking the law.

I wanted to do something.

Do you understand?

Do something right away.

I just couldn't sit there

and watch Nancy and...

How do you feel about

what happened?

Confused...

...that's all.

Just confused.

It's very...

...confusing.

I wanted to understand

what happened to her.

Nobody else here seems to care.

Nobody else cares?

Listen.

There have been 10 cases

of unexplained coma...

...in young, healthy patients

in the last year.

Now, don't you find that surprising?

You don't.

Susan, this hospital does

30,000 operations a year.

I'm not surprised a few turn out

with serious unexplained side effects.

Medicine isn't perfect.

We all accept that.

Don't we?

There's a crisis

in her personal life.

- She's involved with a resident.

- I know.

It's led her to overreact

to this situation...

...which she has not

consciously faced.

She's under stress

and a little paranoid.

Think we'll have

any more trouble with her?

I don't think so.

I hope you're right.

I hate to admit it. I think I was

really upset about Nancy.

You on call tonight?

So am I.

Why don't we have

a terrific dinner...

...just the two of us

in the hospital cafeteria?

- Sounds great!

- About 11?

You got a date.

Maybe afterwards, we can go to

our favorite room on the eighth floor.

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