Chapter 114
“I like modern medicine. You can see it, touch it. Once you find the problem, you treat it,” Lawler said, his tone straightforward. “Not like traditional medicine, where diagnoses don’t really have a scientific basis, and treatments drag on so long that the patient might not even live to see any results p>
You could hear the bitterness in his voice.
“Someone in your family died before they could be cured, right?” Claire didn’t hesitate to call him out.
Lawler fell silent. That was all the answer she needed.
“Not every traditional doctor is like the one you met, and not every illness has a cure,” she said quietly. “Are you sure that, with your mother’s condition at the time, modern medicine could have saved her p>
The question made Lawler pause. He remembered the hospital saying that, with the technology back then, they couldn’t operate on his mom. They’d suggested taking her abroad. Her doctor’s mentor was a well-known expert overseas and was willing to help. The foreign expert couldn’t guarantee success, but her odds would have been better than staying here.
But his dad had been stubborn. He thought modern medicine wasn’t as good as traditional medicine and wanted to treat her himself.
And in the end?
His mom died waiting. He’d watched her suffer, helpless, until the very end. That memory left a scar, and ever since, he’d carried a deep bias against traditional medicine.
“There were no guarantees, but it had to be better than watching my mom go through all that,” Lawler said, his voice tight with conviction.
“What if she hadn’t survived the surgery?” Claire countered, her tone sharp.
Barry stepped in, hoping to calm things down. “Claire’s right. Surgery carries huge risks. It’s understandable that your father didn’t want your mother to go through that p>
“And what about your mother’s wishes p>
“Did she actually want to go abroad for treatment p>
“The patient’s feelings matter too p>
Lawler thought back. His mom hadn’t wanted to leave the country. If she was going to die on an operating table, shed rather it be at home than in a place full of
strangers. She chose to trustwel
dad.
Barry seemed to understand, his brow furrowing. “Lawler, we’re doctors, not gods. We can’t decide who lives or dies p>
“We’re only human. Not miracle workers p>
The words hit Lawler hard. His shoulders dropped, and he seemed to deflate right in front of them. Everything he’d used to keep himself going all these years felt like it was falling apart.
Barry noticed and gave his student a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “You need to think this through p>
Afterward, Barry invited Claire into his office to talk in private.
“I’ve heard that besides acupuncture, some traditional topical remedies can be really effective. Claire, do you know how to make them p>
He was asking out of curiosity, not expecting much, but Claire nodded.
“Yes, I can make medicinal ointments. They work as a good supplement p>
Barry’s eyebrows shot up. His interest in Claire only grew.
He knew he couldn’t make a big deal out of teaming up with Claire. Her age would definitely raise eyebrows. Still, he called his team together, told them about the collaboration, and asked everyone to keep it quiet.
The team included two other doctors, both his former students and important members of the oncology department. When they heard their mentor was bringing an eighteen year old girl onto the team to work on bone cancer treatment, both fell silent.
“Professor, are you serious?” one of them finally asked.
“I don’t agree with this,” the male doctor said, his objection loud and clear.