Attempted Medical Malpractice

Emily was usually confident during doctor’s appointments. She liked to think of herself as comfortable in her own skin, and, truthfully, she enjoyed turning heads when she had the chance. Today was no different—she was scheduled for a routine check-up with Dr. Harris, a young, strikingly handsome physician with a calm, steady presence.

When Dr. Harris walked into the room, Emily noted the faintest hint of surprise in his eyes as he took her in. He quickly regained his professional composure, giving her a polite smile as he scanned her chart. “Hi, Emily. Today, we’ll be going through a basic check-up to make sure everything’s in good health,” he said, his voice smooth yet businesslike.

“Sounds good, Dr. Harris,” she replied with a smile, a glint of mischief in her eyes. She noticed how his gaze briefly flickered over her before he turned to his notes. Despite his best efforts, Emily could sense a slight tension in him.

Step 1: Vitals Check

  • Dr. Harris started with her vitals. He wrapped the blood pressure cuff around her arm, asking her to stay relaxed as he pressed the button. Emily leaned in just slightly, watching him intently. “I’ll try my best,” she said with a smile, letting her gaze linger a bit.
  • He cleared his throat, keeping his attention on the blood pressure monitor. “That’s good,” he replied, his voice carefully controlled. He released the cuff and jotted down the results, only glancing up at her with a polite, restrained smile.

Step 2: Breathing Check

  • Dr. Harris moved closer, stethoscope in hand. “I’ll need you to take a deep breath in and out,” he instructed, placing the stethoscope against her collarbone. As Emily took a slow, deep breath, she allowed herself to arch her back just slightly, noticing his jaw tense as he concentrated.
  • He moved the stethoscope to different points on her chest and back, clearly struggling to keep his eyes solely on his task. “Your lungs sound good,” he noted, though his voice seemed a bit lower than before. He briefly met her gaze, and she could see the conflict in his expression as he pulled back, his professionalism clearly stretched.

Step 3: Abdominal Exam

  • “Could you lie back on the table?” he asked, his tone slightly strained. Emily lay back, relaxing into the examination table with a small, confident smile.
  • Dr. Harris placed his hands on her abdomen to feel for any irregularities, working his way through the usual routine. “Any tenderness here?” he asked, his touch gentle but deliberate.
  • “Not at all,” she replied, catching his eye as he briefly paused. His hands lingered for just a moment longer than necessary before he cleared his throat and moved back.
  • “Good,” he said, shaking his head slightly as if trying to refocus. Emily could sense the struggle behind his professional mask, which only made her smile a little wider.

Step 4: Flexibility and Range of Motion

  • Dr. Harris then asked her to sit up, extending her arms to the sides. He guided her through a few simple stretches, placing his hands on her shoulders as she rotated her arms.
  • “Just checking for any signs of stiffness,” he said, though his voice had lost a bit of its usual clinical tone. Emily held his gaze as she moved through the stretches, watching as he shifted uncomfortably, clearly affected by her presence despite his best efforts.
  • “How’s that flexibility?” she asked innocently, raising an eyebrow.
  • He looked away, briefly rubbing the back of his neck. “Very… good,” he replied, clearing his throat again. His usual calm demeanor was nowhere to be seen.

Step 5: Closing the Exam

  • Dr. Harris quickly wrapped up the exam, his focus entirely on his notes as he fought to regain his composure. “Everything looks healthy, Emily,” he said, his voice more reserved, though she could tell he was working hard to maintain it.
  • “Thanks, Dr. Harris. I feel much better knowing everything’s good,” she replied, giving him one last playful smile. She noticed the slight flush in his cheeks, and she couldn’t help but feel a small thrill, seeing how he’d struggled to keep things strictly professional.

As he walked her out, Dr. Harris offered a final polite nod, his face composed once again. Emily left the office feeling amused, impressed by his restraint, and knowing she’d left an impression on him that he probably wouldn’t forget anytime soon. For all his professionalism, she could tell that Dr. Harris was only human—and that today, his calm resolve had been tested in ways he’d probably never expected.