A Hospital in Another World?
The gathered midwives at the hospital quickly discovered that although this priest spoke harshly, he was gentle in his actions. He did not hit them or even scold them with harsh words; those vulgarities they were accustomed to were entirely absent.
Even if they were illiterate, unable to read books or remember illustrations, and forgot most of what was taught the previous day, this priest would merely smile helplessly, shake his head, and sigh:
"Let’s go over it again... When you wash your hands, you need to wash up to above your elbows, a palm’s width from the crook of your arm. When delivering a baby, sometimes your forearm might go in, right?"
After explaining how to wash hands, he would talk about the structure of the pelvis and uterus, describing how the fetus is wrapped layer by layer in the mother’s womb. He explained which conditions allowed for natural childbirth and which required divine intervention for a chance at survival—
"For example, if the pelvis is too narrow and the baby’s head can’t descend, or if the fetus is in a transverse position, or if the umbilical cord comes out first..."
As he spoke, the midwives nodded in agreement. The situations Garrett described matched their experiences, the blood and death they had witnessed during their long careers as midwives:
"Exactly! Especially when the mother is young, not fully grown. Out of ten births, at least five would result in death!"
"And those who ate too well, with babies too big... I once delivered for a wealthy woman, she was so fat her face was all flesh! In the end, the baby couldn’t come out, suffocated in the womb!"
"Yes, breech births can be managed by turning the baby, but transverse is really difficult... Out of ten breech births, three might die, but transverse, none survive!"
"Priest, in such cases... cutting open the mother’s belly, can both survive?"
Garrett knew that no amount of talking could compare to letting them see it with their own eyes. Fortunately, the second phase of midwife training involved setting up a specialized obstetrics ward where midwives could deliver under supervision and guidance:
"Here comes another one!"
"This one’s about to give birth!"
"Get ready! Change clothes, wash hands, prepare the instruments!"
Joanna bustled about the delivery room, shouting orders, commanding the midwives to follow their training.
The range of these midwives was neither too wide nor too narrow; each had to deliver a hundred or two hundred babies a year. Finding pregnant women willing to be admitted wasn’t difficult:
There were clean, lime-washed houses;
Clean, boiled, and daily changed bed linens;
Food provided for pregnant and postpartum women;
Divine support in emergencies;
Most importantly, it was free!
Accommodation, food, divine support, all free! Even vagabonds would line up for free lodging and food, let alone safe delivery and divine support!
With a bit of promotion from the midwives, Garrett’s obstetrics ward quickly filled up. Garrett’s team even had to carefully screen and select women close to labor to avoid overcrowding the hospital.
...However, on the second day of admitting women, the planner, organizer, funder, and owner of Oakwood Hospital, Mage Garrett Nordmark, encountered a significant problem...
Surrounded on all sides, outside the obstetrics building, were ragged men, emaciated women—possibly the husbands, mothers-in-law, sisters, or other relatives of the pregnant women—staring at him with menacing eyes.
...Why are they looking at me?
Do they think I want to go in to spy on the patients, to satisfy some unspeakable desire?
Admittedly, such vile people do exist. But I am not one of them! If I go in, I can help as a healer, even do more than they can!
"Mage Nordmark! Hurry inside!"
Priest Joanna, hair in disarray, face flushed with activity, called from the obstetrics building:
"These women, see if they need surgery!"
Garrett responded and stepped forward. However, his path was immediately blocked, almost completely obstructed.
Garrett: "...Security! Bernard! Call ten guards! Clear the area!"
Immediately, men shouted, women cried, chaos ensued. Garrett quickened his pace, determinedly thinking:
If they block me again, I will expel all the family members! My hospital allows no one to accompany the delivery!
Inside the obstetrics building wasn’t much better. As he pushed open the door to the delivery room, he was greeted by a scream:
Screams echoed. Guided by Priest Joanna, Garrett lifted a curtain and approached the most critical patient. Unexpectedly, the woman, despite her near-death state, had the energy to wave her arms:
"Don’t touch me! Don’t touch me! Get out—"
With a slap, her hand struck Garrett’s face, only his mage armor preventing disaster.
Question: What should be done when a patient strongly resists the physician’s approach, and no other physician can take over?
Forcing an examination against the patient’s will violates medical ethics; leaving her to suffer and possibly die also violates medical ethics...
"Don’t be afraid, I’m here to help you. I mean no harm." Garrett bent down to persuade her. However, the woman continued to scream and resist, seemingly irrational...
Garrett gritted his teeth and made an unethical decision—he cast Charm Person on her...
Yet whether it was his lack of skill or her strong resistance, Charm Person had no effect. Garrett sighed in frustration:
Hypnosis? No, with this pain, hypnosis wouldn’t work;
Darkness spell? Blinding her wouldn’t solve the problem, and I can’t remain silent throughout the procedure;
Directly using the Peace Spell? It would interfere with voluntary muscle activity, disrupting labor; moreover, the Peace Spell, unlike full anesthesia, wouldn’t make her unconscious—she’d still know a man was nearby...
Should I discuss with necromancers about getting myself a female physician’s skin?
Others wrap skeletons; I’d wrap myself. Wonderful, going downhill...
"Move her to the operating room! Hypnosis plus Peace Spell, now! Quickly!"
Knock her out, cut her open, deal with it later! Convincing pregnant women and their families to accept male doctors is a long process. Until then, the hospital’s procedures need optimization...