Donald’s polished demeanor slipped for a fraction of a second, his eyes narrowing as he adjusted his gold wrist watch.
Donald: Be very careful, Michael. You are a brilliant orthopedic surgeon, but you do not own this hospital network.
Dr. Michael: EMTALA laws mandate that emergency room facilities stabilize any patient who walks through the doors regardless of their ability to pay. You are violating federal statutes to inflate corporate profit margins.
Donald: We operate within legal loopholes, Dr. Vance. Private networks have rights. If you cause a scandal for our board of directors, your surgical privileges can be revoked by the end of the day.
Arthur: Michael, please don't endanger your medical license for this! We can leave now! Lily has her splint!
Dr. Michael: Stay right there, Dad. Nobody is leaving.
Michael reached into his lab coat pocket, pulling out a small recording device that had been flashing a faint red light.
Dr. Michael: Everything you just said about using legal loopholes to turn away uninsured emergency patients has been recorded on my audio file.
Donald stared at the small black device, his skin turning visibly pale under the fluorescent lights.
Donald: You... you are recording internal administrative conversations without my consent?
Dr. Michael: This state allows single-party consent audio recording in public healthcare workplaces, Donald. I’m sure your legal department is well aware of that rule.
Donald: What do you expect to gain from this, Michael? You’ll ruin your own career alongside mine!
Dr. Michael: I’m going to present this recording to the board of trustees at two o'clock today, alongside the security footage of Officer Miller putting his hands on my father and niece.
Lily whimpered softly from the bed, holding up her small hand toward her grandfather.
Lily: Grandpa... is the mean man going to make us leave again?
Arthur: No, baby. Nobody is making us leave. Your uncle is making sure of that.
Donald cleared his throat nervously, stepping back toward the doorway as he tried to regain his composure.
Donald: Michael, let's be reasonable here. There's no need to involve the board of trustees. We can handle this internally within the department.
Dr. Michael: The time for internal discussions ended when your staff treated my family like trash on the lobby floor.
Donald: What do you want? Full financial coverage for your family’s medical bills? I can approve a complete charity waiver right now.
Dr. Michael: I don't want a personal favor, Donald. I want a complete policy rewrite for the entire emergency department, and I want it signed before two o'clock.
Donald: That requires board approval! I can't change network protocols on my own authority!
Dr. Michael: Then you better start calling the board members, Donald. Because if that protocol isn't changed, this audio file goes to the city news network by five o'clock tonight.