The Surgical Department has added a nurse who is starting today.
It's nice to meet you.
What are you thinking?! What is it you want?!
Excuse me for disturbing you.
Before things become irreversible.
Let's... run away together.
We unknowingly allowed a VIP operation to be performed by an unlicensed doctor!
"It's over."
You don't think I've known nothing about this until now, do you?
"Everything... is over."
"I'll surrender myself to the police..."
"I told you before, didn't I?"
"You have already started up the staircase."
"You are not allowed to go back down it!"
"This matter cannot become public knowledge."
"You will go on being the Deputy Director."
"I will protect you."
"Tasaka Akiko"
"You will be connected to the answering machine."
"Please record your message after the tone."
"When was it...?"
"I have always been someone who..."
"...would look at myself from the outside."
"I'm..."
"...a spectator to myself."
Professor Emeritus Sakaizawa-sensei from the "Yokohama Central Medical University"?
It seems a patient the Professor is in charge of...
...just doesn't agree with the diagnostic results the Professor gave them.
So they're asking us for a second opinion...
That's how it is.
Lymph node metastasis from colon cancer.
There seems to be no reason to doubt his diagnosis...
...given these endoscopic test results.
Is there something here the patient has found fault with?
The longest life expectancy they have is about 1 year.
This patient will show up here this afternoon.
Let's see... Fujiwara-kun.
Eh? Me?
Well, give them a quick examination and then just follow along with this diagnosis.
Ah, that would be fine.
- Well then, let's move on to the next matter. - Yes.
Excuse me.
Deputy Director, is there something?
- Please allow me to do it. - Do what?
- That second opinion. - Huh?
Look you...
Having only looked at the documents here, I can't say anything yet...
...but Sakaigawa... It's "Sakaizawa."
I'm sorry.
I think there is a tiny point in question about Professor Emeritus Sakaizawa's diagnosis...
Geh. Hello?
- I want to confirm it. - Deputy Director.
At least allow me perform the examination.
You do understand the meaning of what you are saying, right?
It's best you don't do this, Deputy Director.
Are you listening?
Well, you should stop.
That is if you treasure your future as a doctor.
- My future as a doctor? - Haven't you heard?
If you antagonize Sakaizawa-sensei and his old-boy system...
...it could be hard for you to advance in the medical world afterwards.
Such things as "old-boy systems" have nothing to do with me.
"With the exception of being found out as an unlicensed doctor..."
"...there was nothing I needed to be afraid of."
- Is your posture painful right now? - Ah, I'm fine.
- Is that the patient? - Yes.
She's the one who wants the second opinion.
"For me that day..."
"...uneasiness over whether my future would include..."
"...being a doctor for even a single day..."
"...was something that held no meaning."
Would you be Satake Miyoko-san?
Ah, yes.
Nice to meet you. I'm Deputy Director Tasaka.
Heiwa Fansubs Presents: "Kumo no Kaidan" "Staircase of Clouds"
Episode 7: "A Doctor at Last... The Debacle of the Reckless Operation"
So presently you're saying we will need to open her up?
These are the results of her CT scan.
Following the findings made by Professor Emeritus Sakaizawa...
...as you can see, it appears as though the cancer has spread throughout her abdomen.
All of us can see that, right?
If it's this far advanced, there's no need to open her up any longer, is there?
Sakaizawa-sensei also wrote us as much.
Even so, you mean to open her up?
- Considering the burden on the patient... - Just now...
...I said, "it APPEARS as though cancer has spread throughout her abdomen."
Actually, I experienced a patient who was also suspected of...
...having end-stage colon rectal cancer similar to this during my time at the island clinic.
It appeared in the X-rays as though the cancer had spread throughout their abdomen.
However, the Director of the clinic at the time said...
..."you won't really be sure unless you perform an operation and look with your own eyes."
And then?
The result was that it wasn't cancer that had spread throughout their abdomen...
...but a lymphoma which had swollen up like a balloon.
Ah...
But, the odds this current case will be the same as that one...
That's why, in order to be certain, a laparotomy operation should be performed.
And then?
If you open her and, as expected, it does follow the Professor's results, what will you do?
You won't be able to end it with, "Ah, I just thought so."
Not trusting the findings of a world authority like Professor Emeritus Sakaizawa-sensei...
...will leave you saying you don't trust in his opinions.
You'd be dragging the Professor through the mud, wouldn't you?
You'll get slapped around, one way or the other.
Deputy Director, is there something?
There are only two things that are important to me.
The first is, just what on earth is the identity of this?
And the other thing is...
...to tell the patient the exact truth behind their condition.
If my future as a doctor disappears as a result...
...then that is just how it goes.
I understand full well... the meaning of what I am saying.
Then well, Fujiwara-kun, you'll be his assistant.
Ah...
Takamiya-kun, you will please be his assistant.
Eh? It doesn't have to be me particularly...
That is all.
"In Surgery"
Well then, I will begin the laparotomy for a definite diagnosis.
- Please work with me. - Let's work together.
- Scalpel. - Yes.
- Gauze. - Yes.
He's going for it...
- Sesshi. Gauze. - Yes.
- Blade apex for opening the peritoneum. - Yes.
- Electric scalpel. - Yes.
- Retractor. - Yes.
- Suction. - Yes.
This is...
Ah, this is a lymphoma...
- Sesshi. Scalpel. - Yes.
It was a mis-diagnosis by Professor Emeritus Sakaizawa.
This is bad...
- Take that to Pathology. - Yes.
- Next one. - Yes.
The results of the pathological examination is this is a combination of lymphoma and colon cancer.
After that, I first excised out the cancer...
...and then, for the lymphoma, we will continue the anti-cancer agent treatments.
There is a possibility for a complete cure...
We were sure.
That that world authority had made a mistake...
There is no such thing as a perfect doctor.
That's great, isn't it?
I think it's about time for your wife to wake up from the anesthesia.
Thank you very much.
It could be said to be impertinent...
...but isn't it just for moments such as these?
That you think, "I'm glad I became a doctor"...
Thank you for your hard work.
"Even an inexperienced doctor like me..."
"...can perform an exploratory laparotomy."
"And yet..."
"...when they need to consider their positions and futures as doctors..."
"...they have to think twice."
How stupid...
Deputy Director...
You are a little too caught up in the moment.
Am I?
Do not forget the position in which you have been placed.
It's true I did tell you...
...I would protect an unlicensed doctor such as yourself.
Even so...
...you can't have things going just your own way.
I sincerely ask...
...that you not let yourself become conceited.
Okay?
- Hisatsune-kun, now on to our main topic. - Yes.
The reason why I performed that check on the Deputy Director in the search system...
...was due to this mysterious document which reached me.
"Please check into Aikawa Saburo"
In other words, in addition to us...
...there is another person who knows he is an unlicensed doctor...
Recently from the Mikotojima Medical Clinic...
...a nurse named Suzuki Akiko has come to us.
She's an acquaintance of yours, isn't she?
Yes.
Does this nurse know your true identity?
That couldn't be, could it?
The other day when I asked the people of Mikotojima Medical Clinic about it...
...they were amazed by it and just laughed.
Because I... completely fooled all of them.
Well, a place such as that can be sketchy in many ways.
Well, they were largely troubled by the shortage of doctors.
Well then, about this matter...
Hisatsune-kun, could you check into it discretely?
Understood.
You've been extremely active, haven't you?
It is indeed tough at a hospital like this every day.
Isn't it.
That's why you should hurry and take a break.
What did you want to talk about?
The Secretary General received a mysterious document saying...
"Please check into Aikawa Saburo."
And?
Did they check into you?
Well...
Somehow or other... I deceived them...
How?
By saying it must be a prank.
I see...
That's great, isn't it?
Why would you do such a roundabout thing for?
If you wanted to expose me...
...wouldn't it have been better to make an anonymous call saying...
..."Deputy Director Tasaka is a fake"...
...and accuse me that way?!
That's just your assumption.
I'm not the one who did it.
Then who the hell else is there?!
Are you feeling self-conscious?
It's little wonder you'd consider me.
I put... poison in that.
It's true.
I'm leaving.
I'll say this just once.
Everything that happens to you from here on...
...will be reaping what you have sown.
Welcome home.
Ah.
Are you okay? You've been away ever since last night.
- Something happen? - Yeah.
When I was getting rid of some unnecessary things, this just sorta happened.
"Unnecessary things"?
Dinner will be ready right away. Ah, will you have some coffee until then?
You don't need them, right?
Your memories of that island.
I'm sorry. But...
Let me take a look.
As is, this will leave a mark.
We should get you to the hospital as soon as possible.
I did... go to the hospital.
Eh?
They told me, "you're pregnant."
Aren't you pleased?
To be honest... I'm surprised.
That operation I gave you at the island...
- "That's not it! Where is it?!" - "Anyhow, take out the blood!"
"I am!"
I thought it would be...
...far too difficult for you to become pregnant anymore.
Women are strong.
You and I met on that island, didn't we?
Huh?
I wonder if this is my punishment?
You said, "treasure your memories of the island."
More importantly, go in for plastic surgery tomorrow...
That's okay.
Well, but...
Because I... snatched you away from that person.
This is my punishment for that...
I may not be able to erase that for my entire life.
Aki.
I was surprised you would contact me, Aki.
- I'm sorry since it's so late. - No.
You look good.
I wonder if I should eat something.
Takaoka-kun, you're the one who did it, aren't you?
Eh?
That "check into Aikawa Saburo" thing.
That was you, wasn't it?
Why?
Say... Shouldn't we go back to the island?
Why would you do such a thing, Takaoka-kun...
That guy...
That guy should have just gone away.
He did go away from the island.
He should have gone away from you!
I can't stand having to watch...
...Aki attaching herself to that guy any more than this.
I'm fine.
That's why...
I'm sorry.
"That guy", huh?
Even though you used to call him "Saburo-kun" before, didn't you?
Excuse me a moment.
Hello?
I'll really get money?
So persistent! If you do as you're told, you'll get it.
I told ya this though...
...but I ain't someone in that line of work.
But because it is you, it'll have meaning.
I went to Sapporo.
Sapporo?
That was where Professor Emeritus Sakaizawa was giving a lecture.
I explained to him, "it was an unforeseen situation and our Deputy Director went on his own judgment."
As the Chief Director, I kneeled down on the ground and apologized.
You kneeled on the ground.
- He forgave us. - I see.
Won't you say even one "thank you"?
I protected your position as Director, you know.
Thank you very much.
Excuse me.
It would be simple to dismiss both of you.
At that time you would, of course, leave the Tasaka family.
Deputy Director, what business do you have?
Board Chairman.
- Akiko is pregnant. - Eh?
Oh. That is auspicious.
I have asked Akiko, whenever she is nearby...
...to come by your home and report this.
I see. We'll be waiting.
- Excuse me... - Yeah.
Director, yesterday you said...
..."Do not forget the position..."
"...in which you have been placed."
So you told me.
What about it?
Was that as a human being?
Or as a doctor?
You get up many times during the night to use the toilet?
That's right. And it's dark around my feet.
That's why I stumbled...
But Kiyo-san, it's great there's nothing wrong with your bone.
- Then Orihara-san, I'll roll the bandage on you. - Yes.
I'll do it.
- Then, it'll only be tight at first. - Ah, thank you.
Somehow at that Meniukabu island clinic...
...they had a doctor such as him appear, didn't they?
It's "Mikotojima."
- Ah, really? - Yeah.
- I'm already pretty skilled at swimming. - I see.
- I doesn't hurt, does it? - It's fine. Yes.
Thank you very much.
Ah, Sensei.
Thank you very much for earlier.
- Take care. - Thank you very much.
Yo.
Been a long time, Sabu.
Ryuji.
Yer doin' well, ain't ya?
How did you find out about me?
Well, the world's a small place.
Two years ago...
...ya ran away from my store with 350,000 yen. ($3,400)
I told you, you're wrong.
A thief broke the lock to the restaurant and got in.
Who'd believe such a thing?
I knew you'd shouldered yer father's debt...
...and that ya was bein' chased fer it.
Right after that, ya absconded with it and disappeared.
I was just sick of it all.
Of anything and everything.
Would ya be okay with me going to the police 'bout this?
That the Deputy Director of Tasaka General Hospital is a fake!
If that's all, then just quit it.
Right now, I'm not yet...
I'm in trouble over money.
Ya want me to shut up, don't ya?
I don't have any on hand at the moment...
Hey.
You made sure to keep quiet about me, right?
It's decided him and me are gonna have a nice, long relationship from here on.
So long.
How about it?
Isn't this far more painful than being forced out by the police?
I'm very sorry. Therefore, that'd be impossible.
All of our beds are currently filled.
- Yes. - Is that an emergency ambulance?
Please wait.
A 47 year-old male, with dyspnea and a decreased level of consciousness...
...and who is also complaining of fairly strong abdominal pains.
- Tell them it would be difficult to accept them. - Yes.
I'm sorry. Our conditions for accepting anyone is...
Hello? Please give me a few more details.
- Understood. We'll accept him. - Deputy Director!
At the regular meeting the other day, even you said refusing to accept difficult patients was...
You're just in time.
Nogami-sensei, vascular surgery is your specialty.
- I'd like your help. - I'm saying I refuse!
This is... an order from the Deputy Director.
They'll arrive in 15 minutes, so prep to accept them in a hurry.
- Yes! - Yes!
- Stretcher is passing through. - The treatment room is prepared.
You've arrived at the hospital.
Let's move him. One, two, three...
- Excuse me while I check your stomach. - Taking away the stretcher.
- Attach 10 liters of O2; check his blood gases! - Yes!
- Prep for an abdominal CT scan. - Yes.
- Hurry. - Yes!
An aortic aneurysm...
- Prep for an emergency operation! - We should examine him first!
We're giving you an IV.
It's good his symptoms have quieted down for now, isn't it?
Um... Did you say an emergency patient was accepted?
"This is an order of the Deputy Director!" he said with such authority.
He was so cool. Akiko-san, you should have seen it.
I'm sorry since it was decided he would be hospitalized but could I ask you...
...to deal with the procedures, Akiko-san? - Yes. Understood.
- Good afternoon! - Ala, hello.
Ala, did something happen to your cheek?
Just a bit...
Ah, good afternoon.
Thank you for the other day.
Did you have some business with us today?
- No. I'm just going home from the hospital. - Going home from here?
Because we have an Obstetrics Department here, don't we?
Could that mean you're pregnant?
I'm not in my stable period yet though.
- Congratulations! - Right?
- Which do you want? - Let's see... A boy would be great.
One, two...!
Congratulations!
Welcome home!
When I told them about the baby...
...the female teams kindly gathered around right away to help me celebrate.
- I see. - I'll bring you your glass.
Ah, you mustn't. A pregnant woman shouldn't work.
- I'll go. - Yes, if you would please.
I was just talking with Onee-chan about it.
How we felt it absolutely has to be a boy.
I see.
Congratulations.
C'mon, geez, sit down already, Deputy Director. Sit down.
Sakiko-chan, you too. Deputy Director, sit there.
- Sakiko-chan, you sit here. - Deputy Director, what will you drink?
- Ah, the same as yours. - Yes.
- Have you gotten accustomed to being with us? - Yes, somehow or other.
Ah... that is nice.
I wonder if I shouldn't make a baby, too?
Ala, Takamiya-sensei, are going out with someone?
Ala? Somehow it does feel like I am though.
- Eh? Where? - Really?
Then, let's make a toast.
Yes, congratulations! Kanpai!
- Kanpai! - Kanpai!
Yum, this is good.
Ah, it's delicious!
Is it okay to eat this?
- That should be fine... - Is this pasta?
That's right. What are you saying...
That was fun, wasn't it?
Ah, I'll do that.
This is an important time for you.
Thank you.
All of them...
...were exhausted from their hard work.
Truth is, I wanted them to hurry back to their homes and rest.
And yet you went and invited them over for this...
Are you feeling sorry for Akiko-san?
I didn't mean it like that.
Someone once said it.
That philanthropy was an excuse for indecision.
I don't mind if that's how you want to see it...
What happened to your watch?
I forgot it in my locker at the hospital.
Even I...
...didn't particularly think Akiko-san would come!
Thanks to that, I didn't have any fun at all!
This is the last place I thought I'd find you.
Is there something strange about it since it's on my way home?
Well, that's true...
Somehow... when I have painful times...
...you're always there at my side...
...aren't you, Takaoka-kun?
It's about time you noticed that.
I'm sorry.
But...
Thank you.
Takaoka-kun.
Huh?
This is...
...enough already.
This is enough already, okay?
All right.
- Good morning. - Good morning.
- Ah, Deputy Director. - What's the matter?
The emergency patient you accepted yesterday with the aortic aneurysm...
...is suffering abdominal pains again and his blood pressure is decreasing.
- An impending rupture... - Will he require an immediate operation?
- Where's Nogami-sensei? - He went into a different operation a short while ago.
- Is that right. - Could you do it, Deputy Director?
Well but, that would be...
Well, vascular surgery is outside your specialty, isn't it? Well then...
No...
It's okay.
Prep for it immediately.
Yes.
Chief Nurse.
Has something urgent happened?
The patient we hospitalized...
...is at risk for an impending rupture of their aortic aneurysm...
The Deputy Director is going to perform an emergency operation.
"Slice away and remove the aneurysm thrombus."
"Using a Y-graft from either the leg's common ilian artery and outside ilium..."
"...serially suture them to the femoral artery."
"Break the cutoff to eliminate air in the blood vessels..."
Eliminate air?
Eliminate air...
Like I thought, you were here.
You understand, don't you?
That this operation is impossible for you.
It couldn't be done at the island clinic, so...
...the Director couldn't have done it, either.
You haven't been taught anything about this operation.
- That's true, isn't it? - But, I've learned about it...
It's absolutely impossible without actual experience!
I can do it!
I'll prove I can do it.
"Will today be my first day as a doctor?"
Clamp the iliac artery...
...then incise through the thrombus and remove it.
"Will I be a doctor tomorrow?"
Sensei, please hurry! His blood pressure is at 80.
I understand. I'm coming right now!
Quarantine and then unblock it.
Remove the air from the blood vessels...
Perform an anastomoses to stop the bleeding.
"I can do it."
"I can do this."
The incision resection...
The anesthesia is completed.
Well then, we will now begin...
...the abdominal aorta vascular prosthesis replacement surgery.
- Please work with me. - Let's work together.
- Scalpel. - Yes.
- Where's Nogami-sensei? - He's in the operation.
- It isn't over yet? - It will take a little longer.
Excuse me.
I will begin the clamping of...
...the common iliac artery for the renal arterial bifurcation.
- Vascular clip. - Eh?
A vascular clip?
Ah, no, that's wrong.
- An aortic clamp. - Ah, yes.
There. Next one.
- Next one. - Yes.
Sensei, we have arterial bleeding.
Deputy Director, we've stopped the bloodstream for about 30 minutes now.
I know that!
Hey, Fujiwara-sensei, I can't see!
- Move your hand out of the way! - Yes.
Why...
The clamp isn't stopping the bleeding.
The renal artery is...
Is this a lumbar artery... Or the testicular artery?
- Hey, suction! - Yes!
- Pean! - Yes!
- More suction! - Yes!
- Gauze! - Yes!
Ah!
- Are you okay? - I'm sorry.
- Nogami-sensei! - Yes?
The Deputy Director is performing an abdominal operation for an impending aortic aneurysm rupture right now.
Ah, that patient who was hospitalized before. Is that right.
- It's impossible! - Huh?
That operation is impossible for the Deputy Director.
- What are you saying? - He can't do it!
I'll be honest.
The Deputy Director's way of thinking is that a doctor's skills are always perfect.
That annoys me.
He... He's different.
He is not a perfect doctor!
Blood pressure is dropping!
- Pean! - Yes!
What is this...
- Pean! - Yes!
- Gauze! Hurry! - Yes!
- Gauze! - Yes!
- Tell them to hurry with that blood transfusion! - Yes!
- More gauze, hurry! - Yes!
What is he doing?
- Fully open the transfusion! - Yes!
- More... suction! - Yes!
- Gauze! - Yes!
Damn it...
What's his condition?
The bleeding is still continuing.
An anomaly in the running blood vessels has...
Damn...
- Please switch with me. - Don't worry.
- I will do it here. - Switch with me!
- I said I'll do it! - Out of the way!
- Intestines spatula. - Yes.
- Suction. - Yes.
Confirmed the bleeding is from the dorsal aorta.
- Suturing the homeostasis. 5-0. - Yes.
- Suction around the point of bleeding. - Yes.
Ishiguro-sensei, please maintain his blood pressure by increasing the volume.
- RCC 10 units. - Yes, add 10 units.
- Do you want the graft prepared? - The Y-graft, L.
"I was... a spectator to myself."
"I..."
"...watch myself like this sometimes."
"I should have understood..."
...that I am only an onlooker."
Yo.
I took this.
Still, this is one awesome place ya got here.
Ah, about this.
It ain't enough to pay things off.
I don't have money I can move around as I please.
What are you saying?
Ya live in a place like this.
Never thought of ya as bein' such a daring guy who could pull something like this off.
Fake doctor-san.
Leave once you've finished drinking that.
Give me more and I'll hurry up and go.
For now, 500.
Like I told you, I don't...
According ta me who knew the old you...
...I can see the current you ain't nothin' but a bad joke.
I think that much is within yer means.
Saburo-san!
Hello, is this the police?
Saburo-san?
Saburo-san, why?
What is this? Saburo-san...
Saburo-san!
Saburo-san...
"I should have known..."
This Drama is fictional. All names, including island and hospital names are fictional.
In addition, the practice of medicine by unlicensed persons is prohibited by law.