once: clear up.
I am at least relieved I chose not to speak to the population at large during that flood. Not for my own privacy's sake - I do not have a great amount of secrets, but I imagine it is quite a dangerous position for any doctor to be put in.
In the interest of honesty and transparency, I must make the following clear to anyone wishing for medical treatment: I am Dr Miguel Caesares, I qualified as a doctor in 1893 in Buenos Aries. I since served in the Argentinian Army as a doctor, in a hospital in Argentina, as a general practitioner in Spain, and then as both the resident doctor in an orphanage and as emergency treatment for injured soldiers. My medical knowledge, on arrival, was up to date until 1939 - nearly a hundred years behind a lot of the other doctors here, and a hundred years which medicine on Earth has advanced significantly. I have taken great lengths since arrival to catch up on more modern treatments, to the level of the other doctors here - especially in regards to medicines which have been developed during the 20th century. I also will have another doctor check anything which post-dates me before I prescribed it. I am still, in my view, perfectly competent at emergency treatment and diagnosis, and have over 45 years of experience practicing medicine. I prefer not to use the scanners unless I cannot diagnose it personally. That is nothing but a matter of preference.
If anyone has an issue with me treating them for any of the above reasons, that is perfectly fair and acceptable in my view. I will not be angry or upset. If you are capable at the time, express so clearly and I can easily get another doctor. If you would like it noted in the event you are not capable, to the other doctors, please say so.
[Infirmary filter]
Now that our most... interesting diversion is over, I have copies of notes from our meeting, if you want to read them. [And there's a pretty faithful representation of everything said here attached]
I also need a day or two to sort a few things out with my inmate. I'll come in again on Sunday, I think.
[Private to Jim]
Firstly, whilst I told nothing but the truth, I apologise entirely for my lack of tact. Any caution in what I said was thrown to the wind.
Apart from that - as much as I would like to say we should ignore what was said and move on, I cannot. I know a lot of what you said, you didn't mean to say, at least, to me. Which, I'll be honest, doesn't surprise me, but it also dismays me a little - not on your part, but more that I would want you to feel comfortable talking to me. As there are things you brought up that I should have noticed, or should have given you opportunity to tell me, and I feel like this was a mistake on my part.
And whilst there is knowledge I have that I sometimes do not choose to use, I'm afraid this isn't one of them, as ignoring some of these issues - no matter how they came up - would be negligence. I did have a frank discussion with Nygma, on his behest rather than mine, I point out, so I would like to make a few things clear to you - a few things I can swear to.
I will not interfere with your relationship. That, I hope, is quite clear.
But, having said that, I answer to you and you alone. I do not take requests from Nygma on your behalf. I do not take what he thinks you think as fact. I will not make judgements on you based upon what he says, and will not take his decisions as your decisions. Which is really why I was angry with him myself about what he did. Because he removed the power of choice from you.
I said to him that I did not intend to interfere in you and him resolving any personal difficulties because of this. That is, and remains, between you and him. I will not ask after it or persuade you to do one thing or another.
Now, Jim, I want to talk about your sleeping habits and the box. If you are still having severe difficulty sleeping, we can discuss a medical solution - or if you want to talk to another doctor, that's fine, I'd like a little reassurance that you are, though. As for the box - I still leave the decision in your hands. You can ask for it back, or you can refuse to do so. I will honour either request. We will need to talk further, but I think that's for a different time.
I understand if you're furious at me. But I would rather we talked about that than let it rot.
[Private to Vanessa]
I have that book.
In the interest of honesty and transparency, I must make the following clear to anyone wishing for medical treatment: I am Dr Miguel Caesares, I qualified as a doctor in 1893 in Buenos Aries. I since served in the Argentinian Army as a doctor, in a hospital in Argentina, as a general practitioner in Spain, and then as both the resident doctor in an orphanage and as emergency treatment for injured soldiers. My medical knowledge, on arrival, was up to date until 1939 - nearly a hundred years behind a lot of the other doctors here, and a hundred years which medicine on Earth has advanced significantly. I have taken great lengths since arrival to catch up on more modern treatments, to the level of the other doctors here - especially in regards to medicines which have been developed during the 20th century. I also will have another doctor check anything which post-dates me before I prescribed it. I am still, in my view, perfectly competent at emergency treatment and diagnosis, and have over 45 years of experience practicing medicine. I prefer not to use the scanners unless I cannot diagnose it personally. That is nothing but a matter of preference.
If anyone has an issue with me treating them for any of the above reasons, that is perfectly fair and acceptable in my view. I will not be angry or upset. If you are capable at the time, express so clearly and I can easily get another doctor. If you would like it noted in the event you are not capable, to the other doctors, please say so.
[Infirmary filter]
Now that our most... interesting diversion is over, I have copies of notes from our meeting, if you want to read them. [And there's a pretty faithful representation of everything said here attached]
I also need a day or two to sort a few things out with my inmate. I'll come in again on Sunday, I think.
[Private to Jim]
Firstly, whilst I told nothing but the truth, I apologise entirely for my lack of tact. Any caution in what I said was thrown to the wind.
Apart from that - as much as I would like to say we should ignore what was said and move on, I cannot. I know a lot of what you said, you didn't mean to say, at least, to me. Which, I'll be honest, doesn't surprise me, but it also dismays me a little - not on your part, but more that I would want you to feel comfortable talking to me. As there are things you brought up that I should have noticed, or should have given you opportunity to tell me, and I feel like this was a mistake on my part.
And whilst there is knowledge I have that I sometimes do not choose to use, I'm afraid this isn't one of them, as ignoring some of these issues - no matter how they came up - would be negligence. I did have a frank discussion with Nygma, on his behest rather than mine, I point out, so I would like to make a few things clear to you - a few things I can swear to.
I will not interfere with your relationship. That, I hope, is quite clear.
But, having said that, I answer to you and you alone. I do not take requests from Nygma on your behalf. I do not take what he thinks you think as fact. I will not make judgements on you based upon what he says, and will not take his decisions as your decisions. Which is really why I was angry with him myself about what he did. Because he removed the power of choice from you.
I said to him that I did not intend to interfere in you and him resolving any personal difficulties because of this. That is, and remains, between you and him. I will not ask after it or persuade you to do one thing or another.
Now, Jim, I want to talk about your sleeping habits and the box. If you are still having severe difficulty sleeping, we can discuss a medical solution - or if you want to talk to another doctor, that's fine, I'd like a little reassurance that you are, though. As for the box - I still leave the decision in your hands. You can ask for it back, or you can refuse to do so. I will honour either request. We will need to talk further, but I think that's for a different time.
I understand if you're furious at me. But I would rather we talked about that than let it rot.
[Private to Vanessa]
I have that book.