“Dr. Vance, it is the decision of this board to revoke your medical license effective immediately. You are prohibited from practicing medicine in this state. In addition, we are forwarding our findings to the National Practitioner Data Bank so that this information is available to other state medical boards should you seek licensure elsewhere.”
Vance’s face went white. Keller rose immediately, objecting, asking for reconsideration, arguing proportionality, procedure, and professional ruin. Foster cut him off with the practiced finality of someone who knew both the law and the moment.
“The decision is final. This hearing is adjourned.”
I watched Leonard Vance gather his papers with visibly shaking hands. The smugness I had first seen in Room Four was gone. So was the institutional insulation that had protected him for years. His career was finished, his name would follow him, and most importantly, he would not be able to stand in another emergency department in that state and decide from across the room which patient looked believable enough to deserve competent care.
Outside the hearing room, Christine Dalton was waiting with a camera crew. Microphones appeared. Lights came on.