Chapter 5 - The Medical Board's Wrath
Two weeks before the preliminary trial, the State Medical and Pharmaceutical Ethics Board convened an emergency hearing regarding Daniel Carter's license. Because Daniel was still incarcerated due to the asset freeze, he was brought into the hearing room in handcuffs and a orange prison jumpsuit, flanked by two guards.
The room was packed with press, hospital executives, and Emily, who sat in the front row with her attorney, Victoria Vance.
The Chairman of the Board, Dr. Harrison, tapped his gavel with brutal finality. "Daniel Carter, you stand accused of egregious violations of the Hippocratic Oath, unauthorized manipulation of medical supply chains, grand theft of biologic materials, and direct physical harm inflicted upon a minor patient under your secondary care."
Daniel tried to sit up straight, attempting to put on his old polished, authoritative persona. "Members of the board, I admit to a lapse in procedural judgment. However, I was under extreme personal stress. My daughter’s condition was stable, and I intended to replenish the stock within forty-eight hours. My actions were driven by a compassionate desire to help another suffering individual—"
"Silence!" Dr. Harrison barked, slamming his gavel down so hard it echoed through the chamber. "Do not dare lecture this board on compassion! We have reviewed the ICU telemetry logs from St. Matthew’s Hospital. Your daughter’s oxygen saturation dropped to seventy-two percent. She suffered localized vascular collapse due to the acute withdrawal of her therapy! You didn't exercise 'compassion'—you engaged in reckless, selfish, sociopathic cruelty!"
Dr. Harrison looked around at the other board members, who all raised their hands in unanimous agreement.
"It is the unanimous decision of this board that your license to practice pharmacy in this state is permanently revoked, effective immediately," Dr. Harrison announced. "Furthermore, your name will be entered into the national federal registry of medical offenders, barring you from ever working in any healthcare, biological, or pharmaceutical capacity for the remainder of your life."
Daniel slumped back in his chair as if he had been struck. His career—the very thing he valued above his own daughter, the source of his arrogance and power—was completely destroyed.
He looked over at Emily, his eyes pleading. "Emily... please... talk to them. Tell them I was a good provider. Tell them how much I worked for you two!"
May you like
Emily stood up, walked slowly toward the barrier separating the gallery from the podium, and looked down at him with utter disdain.
"You didn't work for us, Daniel," Emily said, her voice carrying across the silent courtroom. "You worked for your ego. And now, you have nothing left."
