AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Dr. Marks leans back in his chair slightly and narrows his eyes at him. “Do you think that you deserve a punishment to that extent?”
Will looks up and although I can’t see his face, I know there’s confusion written all over it as if to say,you’re asking me?
“No, sir, I don’t.”
“And why is that?”
“With all due respect, haven’t we been over that?”
“Humor me,” he challenges.
“Miss Pierce and I had a relationship, yes…”
“A relationship that violates everything in the code of ethics. Revocation, Dr. Montgomery is well within the scope of punishments we could administer.” He opens a folder, laying it flat in front of him and looks at him over his glasses. “Revocation is justified when the license holder is guilty of unlawful or improper conduct.” He puts his glasses down. “Would you call your relationship with Miss Pierce unlawful?”
“No sir.”
“Improper?”
God, this man is a dick.I roll my eyes.What a condescending asshole.
“Oh please,” I hear murmured and I catch a glimpse of Will’s mother who is shooting daggers at Dr. Marks.
“Yes, my behavior with Miss Pierce was improper. I should not have engaged with her while she was my patient—”
“And married,” Dr. Marks interrupts.
“And married,” Will repeats, and I can hear the defeat in his voice.
“Dr. Montgomery you’ve been listed as one of the top, world-renowned doctor’s year after year. You’ve received award after award, and accolades for your service. Graduated top of your class at Harvard, Dr. Montgomery. Your resume is impressive, and yet you knowingly entered into a sexual relationship with a patient, being fully aware of the risks that you were taking. Knowing that it was against everything being a doctor stands for. You werenotacting in the best interest of your patients, but in your own best interest. How does that make you a good doctor?”
How could they say those things?I’m ready to jump out of my seat to come to his rescue when I feel a hand slipping through mine and squeezing. I look over to the person in question and I see the last person I would have expected: Diana Montgomery.She shakes her head slowly as if to say,don’t do what you’re thinking.
“I can’t let them do this to him,” I whisper. “I have to say something.”
“You’ve said enough. They’re taking your testimony into account. If you cause a scene or have an outburst, you could be removed and Will needs to keep his head in the game. My son needs you here, Charlotte.” My eyebrows furrow hearing her say those words.
Now you see that he needs me? That I need him?
“There is also the matter of the violation of your patients’ privacy. We’ve been conducting our own investigation on the matter. We summoned Matthew Wells for his testimony.”
My head snaps back to the panel upon hearing my ex-husband’s name and my heart rate quickens immediately.What happened with that? Fuck!
“He admitted to everything, but he’s also been very cooperative and signed a number of documents stating he wouldn’t say anything. He was more than willing to avoid the possibility of incarceration.”
I fiddle with my fingers in my lap, having pulled away from the Ice Queen’s grasp.
“Despite all of this we,” he looks at the table of Doctors, “are Doctors first, and members of this board, second. Our job is to detect basic human emotions and interactions. Based on the testimony of Dr. Lenox, when he interviewed one Miss Charlotte Pierce, his recommendation was that she, in fact, was in love with you, and was competent enough to understand the gravity of what your love meant. Of what your love meant for her, for you, for all parties involved. She sacrificed a marriage, security, possible protection from what appears to be an abusive stepfather?” He looks at what I assume to be my file. “And yet, she stated on record that she’d do it all again if she had the choice.”
I notice Will visibly relax hearing a recount of my testimony and a brief smile crosses my face knowing that it’s brought him a moment of peace.
“Miss Pierce also mentioned, and I don’t think she really understands the pertinence of her statement that she was attracted to you from the moment she saw you, before she set foot in your office. Thereby, her attraction for you technically started before you were her doctor. If we were going to proceed further with revocation, we would need to prove to a jury in a court of law that you seduced her as her doctor. Her testimony throws that out, and heaven forbid we put her on the stand.”
My eyes widen as I hear what seems to be aloophole.
He steeples his fingers under his chin. “Dr. Montgomery, I don’t think I’ll ever sit on a case of thisnature. So, we as a board, vote for the motion to suspend you for twenty-four months. Reinstatement will be allowed in December 2019. We will start from left to right, starting with Dr. Lenox; please state whether you agree or disagree. If the majority disagrees we will proceed with trying this case in a court of law for complete revocation of your license.”
“Agree,” Dr. Lenox states.
