Chapter 4 - THE MAN FROM LEGAL
The man introduced himself as Philip Voss, the hospital’s general counsel.
He asked everyone except Marcus to leave.
I refused.
“I am his wife.”
“That is precisely why certain disclosures require care,” he said.
His voice was smooth enough to hide a blade.
I had spent eleven years believing hospitals were full of people trying to save lives.
I was learning that some people spent their days protecting institutions instead.
David insisted that another staff member be present as a witness.
Voss permitted us into a conference room only after reminding us that medical files were confidential.
Marcus sat down slowly.
His hands shook against his knees.
“Four months ago,” David said, “Marcus suffered a seizure during a routine review meeting.”
The memory of him waking in tears flashed before my eyes.
“Doctors found a lesion,” David continued.
“His treatment began immediately.”
Marcus stared at his hands.
“I didn’t want Lily to see me sick.”
“Lily thinks you forgot her birthday because you were saving somebody else’s child.”
He flinched.
I wanted him to.
Voss slid a form onto the table.
“Mrs. Bennett, this is a voluntary confidentiality acknowledgement.”
“I’m not signing anything.”
“Then I advise caution about repeating allegations concerning paternity records.”
It was the first time anyone called the papers allegations.
Rebecca appeared at the doorway.
“My son’s surgery is scheduled for Monday,” she said.
Voss stood so abruptly his chair scraped the floor.
“That is not a confirmed surgical date.”
Rebecca held up a printed appointment notice.
“Then someone should explain why I was told to bring him in.”
David read the document.
His expression hardened.
“This authorization bears Marcus’s electronic signature.”
Marcus looked stunned.
“I never authorized that.”
Voss reached for the paper.
David pulled it away.
For one strange second no one moved.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message from an unknown number filled the screen.
ASK WHY THEY NEEDED HIS SIGNATURE AFTER HIS MEDICAL LEAVE BEGAN.
Beneath the text was a photograph of a hospital computer screen.
Across the top was the name of a patient I had never heard of.
May you like
The patient was me.
