Custom Configuration Part I

"Chief Resident Zheng!" an on-call doctor yelled.

"Yes?" Zheng Ren answered.

"There's a patient requesting admission but… I think you should have a look."

Zheng Ren was a surgeon born and bred, and was thus not familiar with this on-call doctor from the medical wing of the emergency department. Zheng Ren was rarely called to weigh in on their cases. If the patient's condition was severe, they were naturally admitted to the hospital.

Zheng Ren nodded and headed for the emergency rescue room.

In the room, a wheezing, elderly man of seventy-odd years lay on a stretcher.

Standing by the bed was an old woman of similar age.

"Chief Resident Zheng, this old lady wants to admit her husband but doesn't want us to treat him," the on-call doctor told Zheng Ren.

In some cultures, the custom was for terminal patients to pass at home. Some preferred to do so at their holy places but a good number of people chose the hospital.