Doctor Ryan and His Healing System

Chapter 5: Ryan Is Terminated And Chaos Ensues

Despite his superior efficiency, by the time four o’clock rolled around, Ryan was really worn out. He went into the bathroom to wash his face, and as he looked in the mirror, a line of script appeared. It said: “Life to be lived: One year, twenty-seven days, ten hours, and seven minutes.”

Now that is something to smile about – he thought. He was happy, and it felt good to be happy – Finally, I have one more year of life! After four hours of overtime, though, he was desperate to finish his shift. Thankfully, he had finally been allowed to.

***

As usual, Ryan woke to the annoying drone of his alarm clock. He completed his morning ritual, and then he headed into work. Upon arrival, he got himself a coffee, and then he went to his office. He had only just settled in, though, when a cameraman and a woman with a microphone barged in, and they were followed by many patients.

“What’s going on?” Ryan asked confusedly.

The woman shoved a microphone in his face and said, “Hi, are you Doctor Ryan Jones?”

Ryan nodded without saying anything.

 “I am Sophia Collins with the Edmonton Journal,” the woman continued. “Could you please spare some time for a short interview? Yesterday, Mr. George Foster disclosed to us that you are not qualified for your job and that you are using magic to heal patients. What do you say in response to this accusation?”

George’s face appeared in Ryan’s mind’s eye and he frowned. I should have known that that bastard would cause me trouble in the future! – he thought angrily – What does it matter anyway? My means may be unconventional, but I am saving lives that modern medicine would have lost! It bothered him that he was being forced to lie. He looked the journalist in the eye and said, “Any rumors you have heard are just that: Rumors, and nothing more. I am surprised that you would allow your leg to be pulled so easily. As for the interview, I would give you one if you still want one, but it must be after work hours.”

Sophia Collins was not put aside so easily. She said, “Please, Doctor Ryan. The interview will only take a few minutes. Our mission is to expose the truth. If you want to get ahead of the rumors, it is imperative that you talk to us now. And if we do not lead with your story, we must lead with Mr. Foster’s.”

Ryan sighed and said, “So be it. Miss Collins, can you please make way for my patients before I lose mine.”

“But…” Before Sophia could finish her appeal, her words were cut off by a big-bellied middle-aged man as he barged past her.

Ryan’s heart sank at the sight of Rode Gray.

Gray scowled at Ryan and said, “Ryan Jones, you are fired. We have discussed your recent performance. Given that you have had so many complaints issued against you, this should come as no surprise. This should have happened long ago. Our security guards will see you out, and your belongings will be delivered to your home.”

Suddenly, the reporter turned to the administrator and said, “Mr. Gray, it is nice to meet you. I am Sophia Collins. I work for the Edmonton Journal. I am here to interview Doctor Ryan. Could you please tell the precise reason why you are terminating this man’s employment? Did something he did amount to malpractice?”

“That is correct,” Gray replied. “We would never randomly fire a competent doctor, but Ryan was not one.” He looked at Ryan with disdain. “He has only been working here for one month, but we have had to transfer him three times. What is worse, though, is that he has received six complaints against him!”  

The reporter frowned and said, “This hardly sounds like malpractice.” She was intentionally speaking loud so that everyone could hear what she was saying. “By all accounts, the man operated on the most seriously injured boy from the car accident yesterday, and that boy walked out of here on his own volition!”

“That has nothing to do with anything!” Gray argued. “The fact that he saved a life is a cause to celebrate, but it is inconsequential, and it is the board’s opinion that Dr. Ryan was very lucky. If things had gone wrong – if he had been unlucky, I am sure that we would be having a very different conversation today! In this hospital, we cannot rely on luck or superstitious nonsense, and that is the reason why we have decided to terminate Dr. Ryan’s employment, and we reserve the right to prosecute him for any criminal negligence or liability.”

Mr. Gray glared at Ryan. It was apparent to all that he was holding a grudge against the doctor. Only a few knew the reason, though; that it was because Ryan had not brought him any gifts. To Gray, that was unforgivable.

The minute the conversation ended, the patients in the hallway began to argue about who was in the right. Some were disgusted by Ryan’s actions, but others defended him. They said, “The outcome is all that matters. If he is saving lives, then he has my support.”

Of course, if Mr. Gray had made his mind up, nothing any of them said had any bearing on the situation. Unbeknownst to any of them, Mr. Gray and George Foster had conspired to set Ryan up, and now that this had gone public, it was unlikely that Ryan would ever again find work as a doctor.

Much to everyone’s surprise, Ryan was not going to take this sitting down. He stood up, faced the camera, and said, “It sounds like I am guilty, but I have been set up, and my history as a healer speaks for itself. Mr. Gray is not speaking the truth. As a doctor, my patient is my number one priority. Though I do not have much experience as a doctor, I always try to do my best, and no one has ever died while under my care! What more can you ask from a doctor?”