035 Bad Medicine

  As they drove back to the medical school, Nancy turned to Trevor. “Do you have to live at the school when you’re in residency?” she asked.

  “No, I have my own apartment. But sometimes it’s easier just to stay in a dorm. I’ve had to work double shifts when we’re understaffed.”

  “Double shifts. You mean sixteen hours? Don’t you get tired?”

  “You bet.” As if to emphasize the point he stretched and yawned. “Last week was a real stress test. I’m exhausted.”

  “What happened in Room seven fifty-five tonight?” April asked Trevor quietly as Ned pulled up in front of her dorm.

  Trevor stiffened. “What do you mean?”

  “Why did Dr. Rayburn say there’d been a mistake?”

  Nancy tried not to appear to be too interested, but she was curious. All evening she’d wanted to ask him about the patient who had nearly strangled to death.

  Trevor took his time answering. “That patient was allergic to penicillin. There was red tape across the chart warning against prescribing it.”

  April looked puzzled. “So?”

  “So apparently I prescribed penicillin anyway. The order was right on the patient’s file in my handwriting! The patient was given the medicine orally. Her throat swelled up instantly. Her windpipe closed off. If I hadn’t arrived when I did, she would have died. And it would have been my fault!”

  Chapter

  Three

  BUT HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?” April protested. “You must have seen the red tape!”

  Trevor looked baffled and miserable. “I don’t know how it happened. Mrs. Deverly, the patient, was admitted because of chest pains. She also had a slight infection, so an antibiotic was prescribed. I don’t remember prescribing penicillin. But I know my own handwriting when I see it. And Dr. Rayburn saw it, too.”

  Nancy’s mind was racing. She turned around to look at Trevor. “You were paged to Room seven fifty-five. By whom?”

  “By one of the nurses.” Trevor’s eyes met Nancy’s. “I suppose Mrs. Deverly recognized her symptoms and called a nurse.”

  “Maybe the nurse or Mrs. Deverly can help explain the mix-up,” Nancy suggested.

  “And that’s just what it is. A terrible mix-up,” April declared. “No wonder you were upset.”

  Trevor shook his head soberly. “Mrs. Deverly was in shock and her heart stopped. Another couple of minutes and she could have died.”

  Nancy didn’t blame Trevor for being shaken up. It was a serious mistake, and it appeared to have been Trevor’s fault.

  Ned dropped April and Trevor at the dorm. Both were quiet as they said good night to Nancy and Ned. April insisted that they all get together again while Ned was in town.

  Afterward, while Ned was driving her home, Nancy was quiet and thoughtful. “What are you thinking?” he asked as they pulled into the Drews’ driveway.

  “That scene at the hospital was really scary tonight. Being a doctor sure means taking on a lot of responsibility.”

  Ned agreed. “What do you think about that prescription mix-up?”

  “I think doctors can’t afford to make that kind of mistake. It could be fatal.”

  “For what it’s worth, Nancy, Trevor’s not irresponsible. I mean, I’ve known him a long time. All he’s ever wanted is to be a good doctor. The best. He wouldn’t prescribe the wrong medication. He would double-check.”

  Nancy nodded. Her impression of Trevor had been the same. He seemed conscientious, concerned, and caring. But there was always an element of human error in anything.

  “Will I see you tomorrow?” Ned asked as he walked Nancy to the door.

  Nancy laughed, gave him a quick kiss, and slipped inside the house. “How about noon at the hospital cafeteria? Maybe I’ll treat you!” she threw over her shoulder.

  “Some treat.” Ned laughed, grimacing.

  • • •

  The sun was shining as Nancy drove up the winding road to Westmoor University Medical School. She pulled into the parking lot, searching for a spot near the main hospital entrance. The lot was nearly full, so she had to circle around toward the back entrance and squeeze into a narrow slot near the emergency room.

  Once inside the hospital, Nancy found her way to the cafeteria with the help of red lines painted on the floor.

  Nancy didn’t see Ned, but she was hungry and decided to go ahead and order. “I’ll take a cheeseburger and fries,” she told the girl behind the glass case.

  Nancy was heading for a small table near a window when she saw April. She was standing and talking to a young man in a white lab coat. Nancy walked up behind the older girl.

  “Hey, it’s not my fault,” the guy in the lab coat was saying. “Your old man got sick all on his own!”

  Nancy had been about to speak, but the man’s rudeness stopped her cold. She stared over April’s shoulder at him.

  “You had no business in CCU!” April replied in a shaky voice. “What were you trying to do?”

  Nancy read the man’s name tag: David Baines. He had no title so she assumed he was a volunteer or an orderly. He glared at Nancy through dark, angry eyes. “I was called in by the nurse, okay?” he snarled. “I was just doing my job.”

  “After that last incident, I told the nurse on duty to keep you away from my father. Don’t you ever go near him again!”

  “Fine, Doctor Shaw.” He shouldered past April, knocking her into Nancy. Nancy scrambled to balance her tray, but some of her french fries tumbled to the floor anyway.

  “Oh, Nancy,” April said, flushing when she saw the damage. “I’m sorry. Let me help.”

  “No problem. I could do with a few less fries, anyway.” She set the tray down on an unoccupied table, picked up the scattered fries, and disposed of them. Glancing at April, she asked, “Are you all right?”

  April sighed and sank down into the seat opposite Nancy’s. “You heard, huh?”

  “Most of it.”

  “David Baines is a troublemaker,” April declared angrily. “He’s got a thing against doctors. You heard how he spoke to me! I don’t know what his problem is, but I heard that he flunked out of med school and he resents anyone who’s still in.”

  “I couldn’t help overhearing you say something about ‘that last incident,’ ” Nancy said, probing tentatively. “Do you mind my asking what happened?”

  At that moment Ned called out, “There you are! Sorry I’m late.” He appeared at their table, holding a tray piled with food. “My class ran over. Interesting stuff. I learned how each department in the hospital functions. It’s amazing how many people work here. . . . Uh-oh, did I interrupt something?” he asked, apologizing.

  “I just had an argument with one of the hospital staff,” April explained. She told Ned about David Baines, then added, “When my dad first came to visit, David must have seen us together. Apparently he knew my dad was a doctor. After my dad had his heart attack, David made a remark about how the ‘eminent Dr. Gerard Shaw must be as mortal as the rest of us after all.’ ”

  “How awful!” Nancy exclaimed.

  “It really upset me,” April admitted. “That’s why I don’t want him anywhere near my father.”

  “I don’t blame you,” said Ned. “What a jerk.”

  “Aren’t you having lunch?” Nancy asked April.

  “I’m not hungry. Too worried, I guess. You see, my father has a degenerative heart disease, and it’s only a matter of time before he dies. There’s nothing anyone can really do for him now. He was doing a little better for a while, but now . . .” She shrugged helplessly. “I just wish he could get better or that it would all go away! It’s so hard watching him suffer.”

  They were all subdued during the rest of their meal. April’s depression was catching, and after she left to return to her classes, Nancy and Ned were both quiet.

  “I guess I should be getting back, too,” Ned said. “We’re getting a quick tour of the hospital pharmacy and medical labs this afternoon.”

  “Mmmm—?
??

  “Nancy?”

  “Hmmm?”

  “What are you thinking about?”

  “April. Trevor. David Baines. Medicine. Dinner tonight at my house. With you.” She sent him an expectant look.

  “I’ll be there,” he said, grinning. “As soon as classes are over.”

  • • •

  Later that evening Nancy and Ned were settled down in front of the television set in the den. Nancy was nestled against Ned’s chest, smiling to herself. It was good to have him around. “I’m so glad you’re home for a while,” she said, voicing her thoughts.

  Ned gave her a squeeze. “Me, too. This seminar is really interesting, but I can’t decide whether I want to specialize in hospital administration or not. It’s fascinating. I mean, some of the jobs these people have. Can you imagine working in pathology?”

  “Cutting up bodies? Yuck.” Nancy grimaced.

  “The medical school has a dissecting lab where they actually work on human bodies.”

  “Say no more,” Nancy said. “I get the picture.”

  “And you wouldn’t believe it. There are underground tunnels leading between all the buildings. They’re kind of creepy and poorly lit, like something out of a horror movie.”

  “Don’t tell Bess!” Nancy laughed.

  “No way. She’d never set foot inside a hospital again!” Ned’s grin slowly faded. “I saw Trevor today, but he was too busy to talk. He was discussing something with Dr. Rayburn and it looked serious.”

  The telephone rang before Nancy could ask Ned more about what he might have overheard. She answered it. “Hello?”

  “Nancy? It’s Trevor.”

  “Oh, hi, Trevor. Ned’s right here, I—”

  “No, wait, Nancy. I need to talk to you.” His voice was low and shaky. “Can you come to the hospital?”

  Nancy sat up straighten “Sure. What’s wrong?”

  “Nancy, April’s father, Dr. Gerard Shaw, died tonight,” he said, his voice barely audible.

  “Oh, no! How’s April?”

  “She’s okay. At least she’s putting up a good front. She’d been preparing herself for a long time.” Trevor hesitated. “But, Nancy, it happened so unexpectedly. There’s bound to be an investigation.”

  “Investigation? What are you talking about?”

  “I was in the room just moments before Dr. Shaw died, and he was fine! But something must have gone wrong. Nancy, the hospital’s blaming me for Dr. Shaw’s death!”

  Chapter

  Four

  HURRY, NED,” Nancy called as she ran up the steps to the front entrance of the hospital.

  “I’ll be right there. Just let me lock the car!”

  Nancy didn’t wait. She yanked open the door, then stopped for a moment, looking around. The hospital lobby looked much the same as it had the evening before.

  Trevor was seated in the lobby, and he looked really upset.

  “Nancy!” he said, obviously relieved to see her. He jumped to his feet at the same moment Ned entered the building. “Ned. I’m so glad you’re both here.”

  “Tell us what happened. From the beginning,” Nancy said.

  Trevor nodded. “Let’s go to the doctors’ lounge. It’s more private.”

  He led them downstairs to a basement room that served as a lounge. They sat at a table, where Trevor collapsed in his chair. He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. “Everything was normal. I just went in to check on Dr. Shaw. The cardiac nurse was there. April’s father was doing fine.”

  “Where’s April now?” Nancy asked worriedly.

  “With Dr. Rayburn and the chief of staff and one of the other residents.”

  “Why are you being blamed?” asked Ned. “As I understand it, Dr. Shaw was really ill.”

  “He was. But Dr. Clemmons—he’s the resident at the meeting—checked Dr. Shaw’s chart, and he claims I ordered the wrong medicine for April’s father. Dr. Rayburn checked it, too. And it’s true!”

  “You mean Dr. Shaw died from what you prescribed?” asked Nancy.

  “No. The cardiac nurse knew her stuff. She knew the medicine prescribed was dangerous and took the chart to Dr. Clemmons. Clemmons was going to check on Dr. Shaw and then contact me. But April’s father was dead by the time Clemmons and the nurse returned to the room. It all looks really suspicious because I was the last person to see Dr. Shaw alive except for the cardiac nurse.”

  Nancy was thinking out loud. “Maybe I’m missing something. Couldn’t Dr. Shaw just have died from his heart condition?”

  Trevor turned hollow eyes on Nancy. “I hope so. But we need an autopsy to prove it. Maybe I ordered something else wrong. That’s what Dr. Rayburn, the chief of staff, and April are discussing.” He drew a long breath. “This can’t be easy on April. And I’m scared, too. What if the autopsy proves I did something wrong? How can I be making these mistakes?” He leaned his head against the back of the chair and stared up at the ceiling, answering his own question. “I’m not making these mistakes. It’s impossible! I would at least remember making them if I had.”

  “Then what’s going on?” Ned asked.

  “I wish I knew.” Trevor sighed. He turned to Nancy. “Any way you look at it, I’m in real trouble. My reputation as a doctor is at stake.” He swallowed. “Clemmons brought the word ’malpractice’ up a couple of times. If I get blamed, I might as well kiss my entire career good-bye.”

  “Oh, no. It can’t be that bad.” Nancy tried to make him feel better.

  “Can’t it?” Trevor rubbed his hand over his face. Then he looked at Nancy, his expression brightening a little. “I asked you to come because you’re a detective, Nancy. Do you think you could help clear my name?”

  Nancy glanced at Ned, then back at Trevor. “I can try to find out how those prescription mix-ups happened.”

  “I’ll need all the help I can get.” Trevor smiled wearily. “Oh, by the way, I talked to Mrs. Deverly’s nurse. Mrs. Deverly recognized her symptoms and realized that she’d been given penicillin; she’d been through it once before. She called the nurse, and the nurse in turn called me. Nothing more suspicious than that.”

  The door to the doctors’ lounge opened, and April walked in. Her face was pale and drawn, her lips bloodless. Trevor stood up and tentatively took her arm. Nancy could tell he wasn’t certain of his reception. After all, he’d practically been accused of causing her father’s death!

  April managed to pull herself together, forcing a weak smile for Nancy and Ned. “I don’t want you to think I blame you,” she said to Trevor. “I know it’s not your fault.”

  Trevor gave her a big hug of relief. “Thanks” was all he said.

  Ned cleared his throat as April and Trevor sat down, “Trevor’s asked Nancy to get to the bottom of this prescription mix-up,” he informed April. “If anyone can do it, she can.”

  “Good,” April said, distracted. “That’s the important thing now.”

  The color was coming back to April’s face, and Nancy could tell she was getting over the worst of her shock. Pretty fast, too, Nancy thought.

  “I’m almost relieved it’s over,” April said as if reading Nancy’s mind. “My dad suffered far too long. Now we can all get on with our lives. That’s what he would have wanted.”

  “When’s the autopsy to be done?” Trevor asked.

  April’s pretty face clouded. “I wouldn’t grant permission for it. I know it’s unprofessional of me, but I can’t help it. We’re talking about my own father’s body.”

  Trevor stared at her in surprise. Nancy could almost guess what was going through his mind. If April didn’t consent to the autopsy, Trevor’s name would never be completely cleared!

  “I think it’s time to call it a night,” Nancy said. “I’ll start work on this first thing in the morning.” She turned to Trevor. “How about if I meet you in the lobby around nine tomorrow?”

  “Fine,” Trevor murmured, but his gaze never left April’s face.

  •
• •

  The next morning Nancy arrived at the hospital promptly at nine. She wasn’t certain what she could do to help, but she planned to ask Trevor’s colleagues a few questions.

  Trevor was waiting in the lobby, dressed in street clothes.

  Nancy smiled. “I forgot you’re not on duty at this hour. Sorry. We could have made it later.”

  “Forget it. I’m so anxious to clear my name, I’d work around the clock if necessary.” He grimaced. “I ran into Dr. Rayburn this morning and he was pretty upset. I’ve made two critical mistakes in two days. I feel as if I’m walking on eggshells.”

  “Can you give me an hour-by-hour replay of your last few days? Since the day before Mrs. Deverly was given the wrong medication?”

  “I’ll try,” he said.

  They walked outside, taking a path through the park that separated the hospital from the cliff high above the river. Trevor was quite open and so detailed that by the end of a few hours Nancy was convinced that he’d accounted for every minute.

  “Whew!” she said at last. “Most people wouldn’t be able to account for their actions in such detail.” Nancy realized that Trevor had an uncommonly good memory. How could someone like that make the kind of errors he’d been accused of? It didn’t seem possible.

  Back at the hospital Trevor went to the cafeteria in search of April. Though it was lunchtime, Nancy headed straight to the cardiology floor. She wanted to ask some questions about Trevor. Nancy stopped a young nurse on the seventh floor and engaged her in conversation.

  “Oh, you want to know about Trevor.” The nurse smiled knowingly. “Sorry, he’s taken already. He’s engaged to one of the medical students. I think her name’s April.”

  “I’ve met April,” Nancy said, hiding a smile. “I just wanted to know what Trevor’s like to work with.”

  “The best. He’s fun, and he works hard. And he doesn’t order the nurses and staff around. He’s really great.” She looked a little wistful.

  Nancy smiled to herself as she headed for the elevators. Well, Trevor had at least one loyal fan!