A competent doctor can cure everything

In the Department of Pain Medicine, in front of Choi Jin-sung’s computer.

I was in the middle of wrapping up a briefing with the initial hospital admission chart displayed on the monitor.

“So, given that there are no blisters around the ear, taste and hearing are intact, and the patient is young, it seems unlikely to be Bell’s palsy….”

Choi Jin-sung interrupted me by slamming his desk.

Then, with a displeased expression, he glared at me.

“Hey, intern. What did I tell you? I told you not to overstep your bounds. Are you saying the professor’s diagnosis is wrong?”

‘As expected, he reacted this way.’

This was the reaction I anticipated based on what I knew about Choi Jin-sung’s personality.

He has low self-esteem and tends to act tough on the weak while being submissive to those above him.

So, trying to confront him head-on as an intern would only backfire.

‘In that case, let’s go with the flattery strategy.’

I began to act according to the plan I had prepared in advance.

“Yes, I also thought it was most likely Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, but thanks to you, I was able to consider another perspective.”

“What? Thanks to me?”

Choi Jin-sung looked puzzled.

“I was deeply impressed by the paper you wrote on facial paralysis. In it, you mentioned that one should be careful in differentiating between Ramsay Hunt without blisters and Bell’s palsy….”

“Oh, you read that? Ahem, I did write something like that in the conclusion of the paper.”

I continued, pretending to be deeply moved, while secretly holding back laughter.

“And I also learned from that paper that, although rare, VZV can be detected in Bell’s palsy.”

“That’s right. Although it’s a low probability, it can be detected.”

Feeling flattered, Choi Jin-sung began to reread the initial chart I had written.

“Now that I think about it, these symptoms seem closer to Bell’s palsy.”

“Exactly. I realized that after reading your paper.”

“Yeah, you learned that thanks to my paper.”

The third-year resident smiled with satisfaction.

“But the patient said that if it’s Ramsay Hunt, she’ll just get discharged tomorrow.”

“Right, discharged tomorrow… What?”

He realized what that meant a moment too late.

“She said that if it’s an illness that won’t heal before the performance, she might as well be discharged early…”

“Mika is leaving?!”

Got him.

I nodded sadly.

As expected, Choi Jin-sung immediately called the professor.

“Yes, Professor. The patient said she wants to be discharged tomorrow… So I think we need to explain the possibility of Bell’s palsy as well… Yes, I’ll head over right away.”

A little later, we all gathered in Mika’s hospital room again.

“What’s this about getting discharged tomorrow? That won’t do. Are you planning to start rehearsing for the performance right away, isn’t that it?”

At the professor’s stern voice, the manager awkwardly scratched his eyebrow.

“Facial paralysis needs acupuncture during the first week—it’s the golden time. If you don’t get proper treatment and rest now, what will you do if there are lasting aftereffects?”

“Aftereffects are absolutely unacceptable!”

When Mika shouted, the manager patted her back reassuringly as he asked.

“Professor, are you saying that this might be Bell’s palsy? If that’s the case, could it possibly heal before the performance?”

“Yes, exactly. Which is why discharge is out of the question. ‘Hospitalization’ also means keeping a close watch on patients when the diagnosis is uncertain.”

“Then, we need to post an official notice about Mika. When will we know for sure what the illness is?”

“A week.”

Without thinking, I blurted out the answer to the manager, imagining the future.

“Yes, just as the intern said, we need to observe for a week. During that time, make sure she receives proper treatment and rests well. No stress either.”

The manager supported the professor’s advice.

“Mika, did you hear the professor? Get treated well and rest.”

“Okay, unnie…”

“Dr. Choi, since we’re on the topic, why don’t you go ahead and administer some acupuncture?”

It seemed like the commotion about Mika’s discharge was finally settling down…

But then Mika’s unexpected action caught everyone off guard.

“The resident is doing the acupuncture in the afternoon, right? In that case, I want to be treated by Dr. Lee.”

And with that, she pointed her finger directly at me.

“Uh, excuse me, miss? I’m the resident, and this here is still an intern, an intern!”

The third-year resident, flustered, emphasized the word “intern” with a nervous laugh.

According to the hospital’s rules, residents were responsible for acupuncture and herbal treatments. Interns typically handled simpler tasks like moxibustion, cupping therapy, blood draws, and wound disinfection, only starting to practice acupuncture around October.

The professor’s eyes twinkled with curiosity.

“Mika, why is that?”

Mika smiled and waved a piece of paper.

“I want to be treated by the kind staff. You said it’s important not to get stressed, right?”

It seemed Mika had also read the hospital’s newsletter.

Professor Kim thought for a moment, then looked back and forth between me and the third-year resident.

“Mika, please wait a moment. You two, come with me.”

We followed the professor out of the room.

What was he going to say? The serious expression on the professor’s face made me nervous.

“A resident is supposed to be the primary physician, and the intern assists. That’s the rule, typically speaking.”

Gone was the usual kind demeanor. Professor Kim’s gaze was sharp as he looked at us.

“But today, I think I’ll break that rule. I’ll leave this patient in the hands of whoever can provide better treatment.”

* * *

Choi Jin-sung was stunned by the absurdity of being compared to an intern.

But despite how ridiculous it seemed, he was confident he would win.

After all, he’d been a resident specializing in acupuncture and pain management for three years now—there was no way he would lose to an intern!

“Alright, let’s start with you, Dr. Choi. Explain your treatment plan.”

“First, I’ll treat the digastric muscle (a small muscle located under the chin) and the masseter muscle (a muscle that pulls the lower jaw forward). Since the patient has ear pain, I will also apply wet cupping therapy at the Yifeng acupoint.”

“Why did you choose the Yifeng acupoint?”

“What?”

Choi Jin-sung, who had been confidently explaining his plan, suddenly hesitated.

Why would he ask for the reason behind such an obvious choice? Because it’s in the textbook? Because it’s one of the key points used for facial paralysis?

But he sensed that such answers wouldn’t satisfy the professor!

While he was stumbling over his words, the intern calmly responded.

“The Yifeng acupoint is located at the point where the motor nerve emerges, just below the mastoid process (a projection of the temporal bone located just behind the ear). The digastric muscle attaches to the inside of the mastoid process, and if this area is compressed, it can press on the motor nerve, so it needs to be relieved.”

“And how would you insert the needle at the Yifeng acupoint?”

Trying to recover from his earlier stumble, Choi Jin-sung quickly jumped in.

“You insert the needle 0.5 cm in front of the mastoid process, at a depth of 1 to 2 cm, aiming toward the stylomastoid foramen (an opening inside the mastoid process through which the facial nerve passes). The needle should touch the mastoid process.”

Although he was quite satisfied with his response, he was taken aback by Professor Kim’s next question.

“And then?”

“And then”? How could he possibly explain it in more detail?

While Choi Jin-sung hesitated, the intern provided the answer.

“At this point, you should check whether the facial muscles contract.”

“Exactly. After inserting the needle, you need to verify that the desired reaction occurs. Now, what herbal medicine would you choose?”

Choi Jin-sung suppressed his frustration and answered.

“I would choose Gyeonjeongsan, a standard prescription for the early stages of Bell’s palsy that helps alleviate spasms. Studies have shown that combining Gyeonjeongsan with steroids increases the treatment success rate.”

The intern, after a brief moment of thought, responded.

“I would combine Gyeonjeongsan with Samultang.”

Samultang?

Surprised by the unexpected answer, Choi Jin-sung couldn’t help but glance at the intern.

Samultang is known for stimulating the hematopoietic system, promoting red blood cell production, and improving anemia. It also has vasodilatory effects that enhance blood circulation.

Professor Kim looked sharply at the intern.

“And why is that?”

“Women experience blood loss every month due to menstruation. In particular, this patient has a profession that likely leads to a reduced food intake, and she had a pale complexion. A review of her blood test results confirmed signs of anemia. Therefore, I would combine Samultang to nourish the blood and improve blood circulation simultaneously.”

Seeing the satisfied smile on the professor’s face, Choi Jin-sung lowered his head, sensing his defeat.

As Choi Jin-sung followed Professor Kim back into the patient room, he was filled with anger and humiliation.

“Ms. Mika? From now on, Dr. Seon Joon here will be in charge of your afternoon treatments. If you need any other assistance from the medical staff, feel free to call on us anytime.”

“Anytime? Sure, I’ll do that,” Mika replied with a cheerful smile.

As Professor Kim left the room, Choi Jin-sung called out to him in frustration.

“Professor, this is too much! You’ve humiliated me in front of an intern and the patient!”

Professor Kim stopped in his tracks.

“Did you not learn anything from this? Why do you think I did this?”

“……?”

“You follow standard treatment protocols, but that’s all. However, that intern thought about the reasons behind them. And yet, he wasn’t confined by the standard methods.”

“!”

“I’ve noticed something unfortunate about the residents these days,” Professor Kim began, speaking slowly as he looked at Choi Jin-sung, who was left speechless.

“The higher their year, the more they seem to fall into a rut. They stop thinking creatively and just follow the established protocols.”

Professor Kim patted Choi Jin-sung on the shoulder.

“Don’t be too discouraged. There’s always something to learn from those below you. I hope today’s experience helps you grow.”

Choi Jin-sung stared blankly at Professor Kim’s retreating figure.

* * *

“Mika, why did you choose the intern, though?”

While the intern had gone down to the 5th floor to retrieve the necessary items for acupuncture treatment, the manager asked Mika curiously.

“Wouldn’t a resident seem more reliable than an intern? Is there some other reason?”

Mika propped her chin on one hand, her eyes sparkling.

“Hmm, Unni, you know I’ve been in the entertainment industry for a while, right? I’ve learned to read people. I just have a good feeling about that intern.”

“A good feeling?”

“Yeah! That resident, though… how should I put it… it felt like he was being fake nice to me because I’m an idol. But then I noticed how he spoke harshly and treated the intern poorly.”

Mika frowned as she recalled the resident’s behavior.

“You know, there are people like that in the entertainment industry too, right? The ones who ignore newcomers and only smile at the people who are already successful.”

“Yeah, there are a lot of people like that.”

“But that intern didn’t treat me with any pretense just because I’m a celebrity. He really saw me as a patient. And during the consultation, he was so thorough, even more detailed than the neurology or acupuncture professors.”

The manager nodded with a smile at Mika’s words.

“Yeah, it’s true. It’s the first time I’ve seen someone treat you so casually.”

Mika smiled back at the manager.

“I like people who are serious about their work.”

“That’s right, you should get treated by a doctor you feel good about. You did well.”

At that moment, the intern knocked on the door and came in.

“Excuse me, I’m here to give you your acupuncture treatment.”

“Yes, please take good care of me!” Mika cheerfully greeted the intern.