Page 57 of Dr. Alaska
Mav froze. Amberlyn Jenkins. Damn. Lee had a witness to the statements.
“Uncle Randy, I don’t remember this.”
Lee patted Nick on the shoulder, then strolled around the table. “Versed is one of my favorite antianxiety medications that I regularly use. In my job. As a doctor. At this hospital.”
One of the men mumbled, “Oh crap.” He elbowed the guy next to him.
Mav watched the scene, riveted.
“Versed is helpful for anxiety, but it has an interesting property of disinhibiting people. There are studies about using it as a truth serum. Not sure if it’s really good for that or not. I find that it makes people… comfortable and chatty.”
“You drugged him for information?” Randy spluttered. “That’s illegal. You could be sued.”
Lee pivoted, her voice ice-cold and clinical. “No. The attending physician—that’s me—treated his anxiety with standard use of an FDA-approved medication so that the appropriate tests could be performed. I documented his history of present illness in the medical record. It’s literally my job to do those things.”
Randy gaped like a salmon on dry land. “This is all hearsay. Coercion. You led him.”
“I can see how someone might think that.” She took another step then pivoted to face him a few feet away. She was like a spider spinning a web for Randy to wander into. “That’s why I added more medically pertinent information to the record. Nick, could you read the next paragraph?”
There was more? Mav didn’t dare move.
Nick cleared his throat. “‘This writer observed a person identified as patient’s uncle Randy speaking on the phone in the waiting room. He was heard stating thatThis accident was exactly what I need to run that business into the ground. He stated thatHe wasn’t supposed to break his leg, but it’s a bonus.’” Nick stared at his uncle but kept reading, eyes wide. “‘He stated that he had the bank contact ready to send him the papers to sign as soon as the lawsuit is settled and foreclosure begins.’” He swallowed. “I got a broken leg for nothing, Uncle Randy?”
Mav stepped up and slung an arm around Lee. Her chin was lifted, and her gaze remained steady and narrowed, but she trembled.
What an amazing woman. He squeezed her shoulder.
“That’s—that’s one of those HIPAA violations, lady,” Randy spat. “You shared his medical information without his permission. We will report you to the medical board.”
Lee took a solid five seconds before answering, all syrupy-sweet with a gracious, pitying smile. “Bless your heart, Randy. Today is your lucky day. As it turns out, I’m an expert on patient privacy law. It’s not a HIPAA violation if the patient is the one who freely shares their health information with others. Besides, this information would have come out eventually. What do you know? I just saved you a bunch of money in attorney fees. You are very welcome.”
Sweat beaded Randy’s forehead.
“Also…” She paused. “Are any of you lawyers by any chance? No? Because I could be wrong, but I believe your hosts have a case for personal fraud and libel. There might even be a case for insurance fraud.”
Mav rocked back on his heels. He stood up straighter and squared his shoulders.
Lee had put on a masterclass in weaponizing Southern charm and healthcare regulation.
The only sound was Kenai’s faint snore in the other room.
Mav kept his arm tightly around Lee. “Gentlemen”—the term was being used loosely and with dripping sarcasm—“you’ll understand if I ask you to pack up and leave. Right now.”
The mutters of befuddled and angry guests rose as they scraped chairs back.
“Y’all come back now, you hear?” Lee waggled her fingers.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Are you kiddingme?” Maverick spun Lee around and kissed her until she couldn’t breathe.
He hadn’t shaved since yesterday, and the bristles tickled.
Laughing, she threw her arms around his neck. “I hate bullies.” She stepped away and held out her hands, still shaking.
Deirdre raised her arms. “My turn.” A quick hug and she grinned. “That was so beautifully passive-aggressive, it brought a tear to my eye.”
“Killing them with kindness and medical documentation.” Lee batted her eyes.
