Don’t believe her! She’s not a nurse, she’s…” – A little boy in the hospital
Richard’s mind raced as Ethan made his startling claim. The room felt heavy with tension, disbelief, and concern. Standing nearby, the woman identifying herself as Nurse Jenna stiffened, her composed façade beginning to crack under the watchful eyes of the staff. Richard knew he had to act carefully, balancing sensitivity with the need for a prompt investigation.
“Ethan,” Richard said gently, trying to steady the boy, “can you describe the papers you saw?”
Ethan nodded, clutching his blanket tightly. “They had a big red stamp… it said ‘Confidential.’ My mom showed me once. She said they were really important for my doctor.”
Richard exchanged a concerned glance with the chief administrator. If Ethan’s account was accurate, it could indicate a serious breach of patient confidentiality, a grave matter in any healthcare facility.
“Nurse Jenna,” the administrator said, his tone firm, “we need to verify this immediately. Please come with us to the office.”
Her face tightened, and for a moment, Richard thought she might flee. Instead, she nodded stiffly, her earlier confidence faltering. “This is a misunderstanding,” she insisted, her voice losing some of its smoothness.
As she was escorted away, Richard turned to Ethan with a reassuring smile. “You did the right thing, Ethan. Thank you for telling us.”
Ethan exhaled, relief flickering across his face. Richard patted his shoulder before following the administrator and the woman down the corridor.
In the office, activity buzzed with urgency. The administrator made several calls while pulling up security footage from the night before. The screen flickered, revealing Nurse Jenna moving through Ethan’s room, rifling quickly through drawers. The footage confirmed Ethan’s story.
“This is unacceptable,” the administrator muttered, anger barely contained. “Authorities will need to be involved.”
Richard’s mind raced. If patient information had been accessed improperly, the consequences could affect the hospital and multiple families. He felt a protective surge for Ethan and the other children in the ward, determined to see justice done.
As the authorities were contacted, Richard realized his visit had taken an unexpected turn. What began as a charitable gesture had evolved into a critical mission to safeguard vulnerable patients.