And because of that, the patient's sister, the woman who controlled the most powerful conglomerate in Ashford City, didn't bring the full weight of her fury down on Chad.
She only insisted he face the standard disciplinary measures.
If Chad had just gritted his teeth and weathered the storm, he could have rebuilt his career. Kept practicing. Kept growing.
But he'd been coddled his entire life by my girlfriend, Nellie Sullivan. Sheltered. Adored. He'd never faced real consequences.
The moment the internet turned on him, wave after wave of vitriol crashing down, he jumped into the river.
When I arrived at the hospital, Chad Armstrong was slumped on the floor outside the operating room, completely unraveled.
My colleagues were scrambling inside, their scrubs streaked with blood.
"This is your fault! Your hands were shaking, and you still insisted on that one-handed stunt!"
"Just because Director Sullivan brought you in, you think you can do whatever you want?"
"Great. Now we can barely keep the patient alive. It's only a matter of time before he flatlines. When his sister finds out, every single one of us who touched this case is finished!"
From inside the OR, a monitor shrieked its alarm.
My colleagues collapsed into their seats, faces drained of color.
"It's over. It's all over."
One of the newer residents broke down crying.
"Why wasn't Dr. Delgado on call last night? If he'd been here, he would've known what to do..."
"We're done for..."
Chad lifted his head. The instant he saw me, his eyes lit up.
"Him!"
He jabbed a finger in my direction.
"I called him all night! Every single call went unanswered! The one who killed this patient isn't us. It's him. The man who could've saved a life but deliberately turned off his phone!"
Every head in the hallway snapped toward me.
"Dr. Delgado!"
"Dr. Delgado, did you really turn off your phone on purpose?"
"Of course he did!"
Chad scrambled to his feet and held up his call log for everyone to see. Ninety-nine outgoing calls, all to my number.
His eyes were bloodshot as he stalked toward me, step by step.
"Dr. Delgado, we're talking about a human life here. What kind of doctor doesn't keep their phone on twenty-four hours a day?"
"You knew there was an open-chest surgery scheduled last night, and you're the most capable surgeon in the cardiac department."
"Shutting off your phone at a time like this — Thomas, what the hell were you thinking?"
Crack.