Chapter 13 - the board meeting
The emergency board meeting lasted three hours.
Claire sat at one end of the conference table.
Her father sat beside her.
Across from them were the senior executives of St. Catherine's.
Some had been there during Claire's delivery.
Others had joined afterward.
The hospital president, Daniel Mercer, opened the meeting.
"Claire, we take these allegations seriously."
Claire slid a folder across the table.
"I don't want seriousness."
Daniel looked confused.
"I want answers."
She opened the first report.
"Thirty-seven cases."
Another document.
"Seven altered records."
Another.
"Eleven physician reassignment incidents."
Silence.
One board member cleared his throat.
"These may be isolated administrative errors."
Claire looked at him.
"Thirty-seven?"
He said nothing.
Claire's father leaned back.
"My daughter is asking a simple question."
Daniel folded his hands.
"Which is?"
"Who authorized the transfers?"
Daniel looked toward the compliance director.
The director shifted uncomfortably.
"We're still investigating."
Claire's voice remained calm.
"No."
She closed the folder.
"You are investigating because I forced you to."
The room became silent.
Claire continued.
"I don't want anyone fired today."
Several executives visibly relaxed.
"Not yet."
The relief disappeared.
"I want every transfer reviewed independently. I want the electronic audit trail preserved. I want every patient who was delayed contacted."
Daniel frowned.
"That could expose the hospital to litigation."
Claire looked directly at him.
"Then perhaps the hospital should have thought about that before exposing patients to unnecessary risk."
No one answered.
Finally, Daniel said, "And what exactly do you want from us?"
Claire stood.
"I want St. Catherine's to become the first hospital in the state where medical priority cannot be overridden by private influence."
Her father smiled slightly.
Claire placed a final document on the table.
"That is my proposal."
Daniel picked it up.
"Independent maternal-care oversight?"
"Yes."
"Funded by the Sterling Foundation?"
"Yes."
"With authority to review executive interference?"
"Especially that."
Daniel stared at her.
"You understand how much power you're asking for?"
Claire nodded.
"I understand exactly how much power unchecked people can abuse."
She gathered her papers.
The meeting ended without a vote.
But Claire knew the fight had begun.
That evening, she returned home to find Chloe sitting on the floor surrounded by stuffed animals.
"Mommy!"
Chloe ran into her arms.
Claire lifted her daughter and held her tightly.
For a moment, the boardroom disappeared.
The numbers disappeared.
The lawsuits disappeared.
All Claire could feel was her daughter's warm cheek against her shoulder.
Claire whispered,
"I'll make it better, sweetheart."
Chloe giggled.
May you like
She didn't understand.
But one day, she would.
