Anatomy of Betrayal

Chapter 1

While I was performing heart surgery on a five-year-old child, the hospital's loudspeaker suddenly blared and emitted an ear-piercing beeping sound. After that, I heard a woman crying over the speakers. She said accusingly, "I want to report Dr. Maeve Thornton, the current attending physician for my daughter! She brought my daughter into the operating room without permission! She wants to murder my child! "Unethical doctors run rampant these days. Why are you breaking up my family and trying to kill my daughter, Dr. Thornton?" The voice on the speaker grew louder, and I could vaguely hear the outraged cries of disapproval from bystanders. My hand nearly slipped as sweat trickled down my cheek. Several of my colleagues looked at me in shock. Their gazes were filled with mixed emotions—I saw mockery, confusion, and sympathy in their eyes. I simply said, "The surgery is almost over. Stay focused."But in the next second, a deafening sound of someone kicking and pounding on the