Chapter 61 The Warmth of a Small Home
The afternoon consultations ended promptly at 5 p.m.
Huo Nanchen changed out of his white coat and began a small case discussion with the thyroid doctor in the department.
The discussion naturally focused on the different treatment options for hyperthyroidism.
Huo Nanchen mentioned iodine-131 radiotherapy.
"For patients who do not respond well to long-term medication, experience adverse drug reactions or complications, or have contraindications to surgery, iodine-131 is a worthwhile option to consider."
Huo Nanchen then pulled up several more medical records, explaining, "The key lies in the precise calculation of the dosage. The dosage is adjusted individually based on the patient's thyroid size, iodine uptake rate, and thyroid function level."
"It is entirely possible to effectively destroy thyroid tissue while minimizing the incidence of permanent hypothyroidism."
"Even if hypothyroidism occurs, its replacement therapy is much simpler and more stable than the management of fluctuating hyperthyroidism."
The department head pushed up his glasses, a troubled look on his face.
"Dr. Huo, we understand your theory and the data looks great, but it's difficult to put into practice."
"First of all, iodine-131 falls under the category of nuclear medicine. If patients need treatment, they need to get a prescription from us."
“The process of transferring patients to the nuclear medicine department is complicated, and many patients find it troublesome and the communication costs are high.”
"Secondly, the risks of hypothyroidism are very real. Many patients give up as soon as they hear that they may have to take medication for life, preferring to endure the repeated torment of hyperthyroidism."
"As doctors, we must also respect the patients' choices and cannot bear the responsibility of 'causing harm'."
"Therefore, to be on the safe side, we should choose medication to control the disease. Although the process is lengthy, at least the risks are manageable."
"The most important thing is the accuracy of the dosage, which currently not many doctors can achieve."
Another younger doctor added, "Moreover, many patients have an instinctive fear of the word 'radiation,' and explaining it takes a lot of time. With such a large number of patients, it's really a bit..."
Huo Nanchen listened quietly without refuting.
He understands their concerns. Medical decisions are never just purely technical issues; they involve multiple factors such as the healthcare system, patient perceptions, and doctor-patient relationships.
In township health centers, he has greater autonomy and more time to communicate with patients, allowing him to implement what he considers the best treatment plan in greater detail.
Here, the assembly-line operations and risk aversion of large hospitals have invisibly built another wall.
"I understand your considerations." Huo Nanchen finally just nodded.
"The choice of treatment plan ultimately depends on the joint decision of doctors and patients. I am just providing another possibility."
After the discussion, Huo Nanchen declined the director's invitation to have dinner together and left the hospital alone.
As dusk falls in Hong Kong, the city lights begin to twinkle and the traffic flows like a river.
He sat in the driver's seat, but instead of immediately driving towards the Judicial Bureau dormitory, he stopped at the sign of a large chain supermarket.
He turned on his turn signal and drove the car into the supermarket's underground parking lot.
The empty kitchen in the dormitory made him feel like something was missing.
He enjoys cooking, not so much for the sake of his appetite, but more for the enjoyment of the focused process.
Cleaning, cutting, and controlling the heat—every step requires focused concentration.
It can effectively distract the brain from cluttered thoughts and is a unique way to relieve stress.
Pushing his shopping cart, he weaved between the shelves.
When I got back to the dormitory, it was already dark.
He carefully cleaned the stove and kitchen utensils with the newly purchased cleaning supplies, and then began to prepare dinner.
Washing rice and cooking it, cleaning vegetables, shredding lean meat and marinating it... the movements are smooth and orderly.
He made a simple two-dish and one-soup meal: shredded pork with green peppers, broccoli with garlic, and tomato and egg drop soup.
He covered the food with a plate to keep it warm, and glanced at the time; it was almost eight o'clock.
Lin Xili hasn't returned yet. She said she had a lot of training today and would be working late.
Thinking of Xu Yanchi's harassment, he picked up his keys and went out again.
Only a few windows in the solemn building of the Justice Bureau were still lit.
Huo Nanchen walked to a sycamore tree diagonally opposite the gate and stood there.
The light here is dim, making it easy to go unnoticed, but you can clearly see people coming out of the building.
Time passed by, and few people came and went. Occasionally, employees who were working overtime would wrap themselves up tightly and leave in a hurry.
The security guard glanced at him warily from time to time through the glass door.
Huo Nanchen's thoughts drifted to a blank spot: the case discussions from earlier that day, Ning Yu's appearance, fragments of the past...
He recalled how Lin Xili had agreed to marry him to defy the family's arranged marriage.
He then thought of the hurt and grievances Lin Xili had suffered because of the neglect she received from her family of origin. He wondered if she had been licking her wounds alone since childhood.
Thinking of this, he felt a strange pain in his heart.
He let out a long sigh and looked back at the gate of the Justice Bureau across the street, where employees occasionally came out.
Just then, that familiar figure appeared at the entrance of the Justice Bureau.
Lin Xili, carrying a backpack, was walking while looking down at her phone, seemingly checking the latest information.
Huo Nanchen walked out from under the tree.
Lin Xili noticed someone was watching her, looked up, and froze when she saw that it was Huo Nanchen. She stopped in her tracks.
"You...why are you here?" She stepped forward, her voice hoarse from work.
"Off work?" Huo Nanchen asked instead of answering. "Dinner's ready, it's just in time to eat at home."
Before that, her life consisted mostly of cafeterias and takeout.
No one ever cooked a meal for her and then quietly waited for her to come home from get off work so they could eat together.
"Yes, I'm off work." She lowered her head, concealing the turbulent emotions in her eyes, and said softly, "Let's go home and have dinner."
As soon as the dormitory door opened, warm lights and the enticing aroma of food wafted out.
Two sets of bowls and chopsticks were already set on the small dining table, with wisps of steam rising from the edges of the covered plates.
At this moment, Lin Xili clearly felt that this temporary dormitory was affected by the arrival of the man behind her.
Because of this simple meal, for the first time, I felt the warmth of a small home.
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