Chapter 142

NOAH I was walking down the hallway of the Thoracic Surgery Inpatient Unit with Dr. Watson when we noticed a few nurses gathered near one of the wards, speaking in low but agitated voices while occasionally glancing toward the room. Dr. Watson had called me back to continue discussing the interview arrangements, and we were on our way to his office when the murmuring caught our attention. The expressions on their faces made it clear that something unpleasant had just happened. Curious, Dr. Watson slowed his steps. “What’s going on?” he asked calmly. One of the nurses glanced toward the ward before answering. “A family member came to visit Mrs. Evans. It seems she didn’t know about the diagnosis.” Dr. Watson’s brows drew together slightly. “What do you mean?” “She started questioning the surgery,” the nurse explained. “She said the patient had lung cancer and asked how surgery could possibly cure it. Then she began talking about how expensive it would be.” Another nurse added quietly, “