The Surgeon

A few days after Caleb Donaghy’s death, Dr. Anne Wiley completes three difficult morning consultations and returns to her office to find the patient file she requested from her assistant, Madison. Anne prints a morgue photo of Donaghy’s face and adds it to the red folder containing his medical records. Madison confronts her, calling her fixation unhealthy, but Anne refuses to archive the file, saying she needs it for the formal review.

Madison announces that M, the hospital administrator, wants to see Anne immediately. In M’s office, Anne finds her in a heated discussion with Dr. Fitzpatrick, Anne’s department chief. M informs Anne that there will be a formal hearing for the Donaghy case and instructs her to direct any questions to hospital counsel. After the meeting, Anne worries that they’re planning to fire or report her, especially since Madison told her that Dr. Bolger, the anesthesiologist from Donaghy’s surgery, requested not to work with her again.

Back at her office, Anne finds Paula waiting for her. As ASA, Paula is there to question Anne about Donaghy’s death. Anne deflects by citing the hospital’s formal review process for patient deaths and uses her upcoming surgery as an excuse to end the conversation.