IC Inbox (v1.0)

[jumpthegun]

You've reached Dr. John Watson. Please leave a message.

Comments

[jumpthegun]

[Well, that just makes him angry.]

My opinion isn't negotiable. What I give her is.

You really think that little of me that I'd lie to you about this? When have I ever lied to you about something medical? When have I ever lied to you about anything?

[The 'you cock,' is left out, but heavily implied.]

Don't take your fear for her out on me. You're better than that, Alfie.

[devoutish]

I know you're capable of justifying a great many things to yourself because you do them with good intentions.

If we were speaking out loud, with our voices, you could hear me say that in a tone that isn't accusatory. But it is what it is, mate.

[jumpthegun]

[And this is why we don't give uneducated, fearful parents full explanations of drug side effects. John's affront is growing by leaps and bounds. He's tempted to just tell Alfie 'fuck you' and sign off. That wouldn't be productive, though.]

Mr. Solomons, I don't treat people without their consent or without the consent of their guardian. Unless it's someone like the bloody Joker. I don't fake medications. And I don't know where the hell you ever got the I idea that I'm that kind of doctor. This is basic bloody medical ethics. Maybe that doesn't mean much to half the doctors here, but it sure as hell does to me.

[devoutish]

Fucking hell, I do not think it means nothing to you.

[jumpthegun]

No, you think it doesn't mean enough to me not to trick you for your own good. News flash, mate: Patients and their guardians make bloody awful decisions about treatment daily. My job is to give you an opinion and recommend a course of treatment based on that opinion. I can offer alternatives that I may not think are best, but that will still do something. If you choose one of those options, that's what we go with, regardless of my opinion.

Or sure, go and find another doctor who'll roll over and bow to the great Alfie Solomons instead of giving him the goddamn facts.

[devoutish]

I'm going to discuss this with Royce. I'll let you know what we decide.

[jumpthegun]

Bully for you. Ask her what her pain levels are, regardless. That's going to be the first question any of the doctors here ask. Also make sure you know her weight. That'll be important for dosing.

[devoutish]

We haven't got a scale here. She feels something like four and a half stone.

[jumpthegun]

If you consult anyone else, that makes her roughly 60 pounds. That's easier for the Americans to understand than stone weight.

[devoutish]

Sixty pounds. All right. And that'll go down a bit, the longer she's here.

[jumpthegun]

If she drops much below the upper 50s, we're going to want to start worrying about her less for the pain and more for all the problems that come with malnutrition in a kid her age.

[devoutish]

Those I know about. We won't let her run out of food.

[As long as she's with them, anyway. He just hopes they can keep her from taking off with Peter again.]

[jumpthegun]

Just make sure she's actually eating what she's got, and it should be fine then. I haven't seen or heard about any changes in the food supply since the Admin's announcement about supply shortages, at least.

[devoutish]

We'll swing around the grocery store again on our way out of the downtown. We'll give her the best things we've got.

[jumpthegun]

Stock up on any pre-cooked proteins you can. Do they have those at the grocery? I know Angel or Rhys mentioned something with bacon, but I think they must have matches or a lighter.

[devoutish]

I wouldn't know anything about cooking bacon safely - I'll ask Royce. If it's crispy and smelly, it's well-done, yeah?

[jumpthegun]

Yeah. There should be more than just pork, though. Seafood's typically okay to do raw if they've got any fish. Not sure if sushi and the like were popular back in your day.

[devoutish]

Raw fish? I think the Chinese eat that.

[jumpthegun]

Sushi is more Japanese, but you've got the right geography. Doubt it'll be much to her tastes, but it's nutritious and safe compared to eating raw chicken, steak, or pork.

[devoutish]

Nee how.

[Truly putting Kesara to shame here.]

Lucky, that. I haven't got much to cook with.

[jumpthegun]

I think you mean 'ni hao.'

Fruits and veggies, particularly beans, should be the next priorities after that.

[devoutish]

I know what healthy foods are, mate.

[jumpthegun]

[You're a 1920s gangster, Alfie. He's not sure with you sometimes!]

All right. Tell me once you've spoken to Duster if you want my medical advice and prescriptions, then.

[devoutish]

[He just hangs up there, with no response back. But a few hours later, he texts again.]

You do understand why we worry.

[It's a question without a question mark - he assumes Watson does, but isn't 100% sure.]

[jumpthegun]

Of course I understand. She's a little girl and you're trying to do the best you can for her in a place like this with limited information and everything trying to kill us.

[Sometimes succeeding, as evinced by Kesara's name in the Obits and a number of other little girls before her, not to mention kids like Quark and Alphonse.]

I'll let you know my opinion on what I think the best course of treatment is. My opinion is non-negotiable. What we actually do to help her is. And that's up to her and it's up to you.