Guarded Prognosis by Richard L. Mabry MD

Author:Richard L. Mabry MD [L. Mabry MD, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-07-16T22:00:00+00:00

On Thursday afternoon, Henry made his way to the office of the gastroenterologist he had chosen. Dr. Bradley Ross was much younger than Dr. Gershwin, but along the way Henry had found that the man was already gaining a reputation as a top-notch practitioner in his specialty in the Dallas area. Unlike Gershwin, he didn’t keep an office at the medical school, but was a clinical associate professor there, donating his time on a regular basis to teaching residents and fellows.

From the time Henry walked through the door of Ross’s office, he was impressed. The waiting room was nicely appointed, but the way the staff behaved was what sold him. The receptionist was pleasant and helpful. The registration process was efficient. He handed over his records and a DVD that documented his radiology procedures. Although he had to fill out the usual forms, he didn’t have to wait long before a middle-aged woman in a nurse’s smock appeared at the doorway and called, “Dr. Taggart?” Although Henry didn’t really want special treatment, he couldn’t help but be pleased that the office staff at least recognized his profession and title.

After the standard weigh-in and recording of vital signs, he settled down in the exam room to wait. Now we’ll see how long I have to sit here. The answer was “not long.” Less than ten minutes later, Dr. Ross tapped on the door and entered.

The young man—at least, he looked young to Henry—smiled, introduced himself, and took a seat on the rolling stool next to the exam table. Ross was blond, with a ruddy complexion. A clean lab coat covered his pale blue dress shirt and patterned tie. Maybe it was because he dealt with GI issues, rather than cancer all day, but to Henry, Ross seemed pleasant compared to Gershwin.

“Dr. Taggart, I’m Brad Ross. How can I help you?”

“Would you like to see my records and tests before you get started?” Henry asked. “I brought them.”

“I’d prefer to hear your story first.” Ross leaned forward a bit. “Then we’ll look at the tests together and decide where to go from there.”

It took Henry about ten minutes to tell his story. Ross listened intently, occasionally jotting down a note but never interrupting. When Henry had finished, Ross asked a few questions, then was silent for a moment as he appeared to digest the information.

Finally, he rose from the stool and pulled a stethoscope from the pocket of his white coat. “Next I want to examine you. Why don’t you slip off your shirt?”

The exam took another ten minutes and was thorough. Ross didn’t say anything during the procedure, and Henry found it almost impossible to read his expression.

“After you’re dressed, we’ll look at the GI series,” the gastroenterologist said. “That’s what started you and your doctor on this trail.”

In Ross’s office, Henry handed over the DVD that showed his initial X-rays. The consultant popped the disc into the laptop computer on the desk and invited Henry to come around, so they could look at the radiographs together.

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