Surgery Godfather-Chapter 561 - 509: Are You an Orthopedics Doctor?

Saudi Arabia, a country that thrived due to its vast oil reserves, emanates the aura of a new-moneyed elite.

Jeddah has naturally absorbed this unique characteristic. Luxury vehicles speed past opulent buildings, distant sea fountains, and the under-construction Kingdom Tower.

The Kingdom Tower, reported to exceed one kilometer in height, once finished, will surpass Dubai’s Burj Khalifa and become the world’s first building exceeding one kilometer.

Every corner of this place tells of its status as a hub of wealth.

The driver took them to a hotel near the hospital. After stowing their luggage, they headed straight to a local Chinese restaurant for a meal.

Yang Ping was quite pleased with this arrangement. While he didn’t despise foreign cuisine, he definitely didn’t fancy it. Chinese food remained his favorite.

The restaurant, ran by a Sichuanese, was thriving, thanks to the sizable Chinese population in Jeddah. The eatery was kept afloat just by catering to a large nearby construction site.

During festivals, the workers from these sites often gathered here for a meal.

Not far from Yang Ping’s table, several construction workers were eating. The marking on their uniforms read as "China Construction Seventh Bureau."

The restaurant owner explained that they were involved in a multi-billion-dollar project.

After finishing their meal, the workers began to leave. The owner gifted them with a few bottles of Laoganma, a popular chilli condiment.

"How long will you be staying here? You can take a couple of bottles too," the restaurant owner kindly offered.

Yang Ping shook his head, "You’re too kind. We’re just here for a short stay."

"They sometimes lose their appetites. This helps stimulate it," the owner explained.

The restaurant served authentic Sichuan cuisine, a rare find overseas.

They were on a tight schedule. After the meal, Professor Li led Yang Ping back to the hotel without delay.

Yang Ping took a quick shower, changed into fresh clothes, rested for a while, then accompanied Professor Li to IMC Hospital.

This was the largest hospital in Jeddah. The newly constructed heart center attracted numerous top-tier doctors from around the world.

Of course, most of these top doctors came in groups to reap rewards. They signed contracts with the hospital. For an attractive commission, they agreed to perform surgeries for a few days every month.

There were also a few who were invited by charitable organizations to lead surgeries, but these were infrequent.

Some younger doctors used this as an opportunity to gain practical experience on the ground since they didn’t get enough exposure at their hospitals. The chance to perform operations here was much greater.

The Saudi Red Crescent Authority frequently dispatched helicopters to neighbouring countries to transport patients to this hospital for treatment. All costs were covered by charitable institutions.

Professor Li visited Saudi Arabia almost every month. He was quite familiar with the place. He was a contract doctor at the hospital and also worked on projects for the International Red Cross Society.

Most of the nurses here were recruited from the Philippines and South Korea, as Saudi law prohibited women from working in the nursing field.

Upon arriving at the doctor’s office in the Cardiac Centre, they found the office to be spacious, able to accommodate dozens of people working simultaneously.

"Everyone, pause your work for a moment. I have someone to introduce!"

Professor Li clapped his hands.

The doctors in blue scrubs immediately halted their work. Even those discussing surgical plans became quiet and looked up.

"This is Doctor Yang, who I invited from China. He will be performing surgery on the Mirror Man.".

After the brief introduction, murmurs filled the office, and hushed conversations sprouted up.

They all knew that Professor Li Zehui invited a top cardiac surgeon from China.

This had caused a rift between him and his mentor—Professor Dodge from Cleveland, due to the controversy.

Professor Dodge insisted on leading the surgery, but was firmly rejected by Professor Li Zehui.

Li Zehui and Dodge were the leading surgeons at Cleveland Heart Center. If they couldn’t perform the surgery, this doctor apparently could.

It looked like a young doctor, at that.

"Hello, Doctor Yang!"

The first to stand and shake hands was a rotund white man of about 1.75 meters tall. He greeted Yang Ping in English.

In response, Yang Ping greeted him in English and shook hands.

"Dr. Dodge, an Attending physician from Cleveland Heart Center. He can perform cardiac surgeries on both children and adults," Professor Li Zehui introduced.

In the United States, the hierarchy of doctors didn’t complicate—only two levels existed: residents and attending physicians.

Residents were in training and couldn’t practice independently. Attending physicians had completed training and could practice independently.

Doctors in the United States didn’t undergo rank evaluations, and the title of attending physician was lifelong.

Every attending physician had full autonomy over diagnosis and therapy for their patients. No other attending physician had the right to interfere. Even a department head or hospital president, who only held administrative duties, couldn’t interfere with the treatment plan set by other doctors.

Different residency programs require different lengths of training, with variations across disciplines. Generally, internal medicine systems require 3~4 years, while surgical systems require 5~7 years. Specialties such as thoracic surgery and neurosurgery require longer training, up to seven years.

Some even require subsequent subspecialty training, such as cardiac surgery.

So in Cleveland, from a doctor’s ranking perspective, both Li Zehui and Dodge are attending physicians.

And for those who can be called a professor, that’s a different evaluation system - an academic evaluation system. It has nothing to do with practicing medicine. It can be understood that if you have extra capacity in your medical practice, or have the intention, you can earn a professorship at the university. That is extra, and has no relation to the doctor’s title rank. You can understand it as a part-time job.

Dodge and Li Zehui are alike in that they can perform cardiac surgeries for children and adults.

Surgeons who can perform cardiac surgeries for both children and adults are extremely rare in the world, simply a precious rarity.

"Which hospital in China does Doctor Yang work for? Anzhen, or Fuwai?"

Doctor Dodge only knows Anzhen and Fuwai when it comes to cardiac surgery in China, but compared with the Cleveland Heart Center, these two hospitals also appear quite ordinary.

Yang Ping shook his head: "Neither, I’m from Sanbo Hospital."

"Sanbo?"

Dodge murmured a few times, "Sorry! I’ve never heard of the cardiac surgery department at Sanbo Hospital."

For Doctor Dodge’s directness, Yang Ping remained unbothered. He candidly said: "Our cardiac surgery is just getting started, and my main specialty is orthopedics, not cardiac."

Dodge was astounded, his eyes immediately widened, mouth slightly opened. Were it not for the many eyes on him, he would definitely have opened his mouth to its limit.

Orthopedics!

Inviting an orthopedic surgeon to perform cardiac surgery?

What a joke!

That can’t be right, can it?

Dodge cast his gaze upon Professor Li Zehui, seeking confirmation, questioning whether he misheard, or if this was genuinely that insane.

Inviting an orthopedic surgeon to be the chief surgeon for cardiac surgery!

Professor Li Zehui looked composed: "Dodge, you heard correctly. Yes, Orthopedics is Doctor Yang’s main specialty, but that does not prevent me from inviting him to lead the surgery for this little guy. With my backing, it is in compliance with the medical regulations here."

Professor Li spread his hands casually, shrugged.

The whole office was full of cardiac surgery specialists, even the rookies wouldn’t think they’re inferior to an orthopedic surgeon.

All the expectations they had previously been harboring in their hearts vanished instantly. An orthopedic surgeon performing cardiac surgery, it’s impossible, absolutely impossible.

Not to mention this kind of top-notch surgery, even a routine pediatric cardiac surgery, how could an orthopedic surgeon possibly manage it.

Some even started to laugh, and some began working on their own things.

"I’m sorry, Doctor Yang, some things do always take a process, but it does not impede my inviting you to be the chief surgeon for this operation. I’ve anticipated this scene." Professor Li knew something like this could happen.

The first Mirror Man, a little girl. Dodge was insistent on the surgery, and the result was that the little girl died on the operating table.

Dodge believed, there was nothing about it. No one in the world could successfully carry out this kind of surgery, and the courage he showed as a pioneer was commendable.

But Li Zehui did not see it this way, he believed that there were even more formidable doctors in the world, and that was Yang Ping.

So this time, he would not let Dodge touch this patient, no matter what.

He even directed the junior doctors: No one is allowed to touch this patient.

This command upset Dodge greatly, turning their relationship awfully stiff.

Ever since coming to this hospital, Dodge and Li Zehui have enjoyed a smooth collaboration. This matter, however, has instigated several disputes between them.

"Alright, I won’t interrupt your work, I wish you a pleasant day at work!" Dodge very gentlemanly said to Yang Ping.

Then he turned to Li Zehui: "Let’s chat about this another time, you owe me some explanations."

Dodge held back his anger. Li Zehui had always kept him away from this patient, but now he was inviting an orthopedic surgeon to lead the surgery. He even suspected a conspiracy here.

"Dodge, I am not your subordinate. I take full responsibility for any decision I make, and I do not owe you any explanation." Li Zehui led Yang Ping to his desk. As they passed by, he leaned towards Dodge’s ear and whispered.

"Every one of us has to be responsible for Cleveland’s reputation."

Dodge also whispered in reply.

Professor Li had no intention of dragging this matter out. He turned to Yang Ping and said: "Doctor Yang, shall we look at the patient’s medical records, then go to the ward to see the patient?"

"Marshall!"

Professor Li Zehui called a doctor’s name.

The doctor named Marshall had taken the medical records over, and the electronic screen on his office table was covered with images.