The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call (2025) s01e04 Episode Script

1
Yes, this is Yang Jae-won.
Spinal needle.
One, two.
Wait a minute! Excuse me! I'm sorry!
Try one gram of IV acetaminophen.
Warm saline. Warm saline!
Gauze.
Press down hard!
THE TRAUMA CODE: HEROES ON CALL
JI-YEONG
Oh, really? "Ji-yeong"?
I guess he has time to date.
I'm gonna work him harder.
Uh, uh…
Hey. Do you know a Choi Jo-eun?
The name sounds really familiar.
That's the Hospital Director. Choi Jo-eun.
Director?
Ah!
It's no wonder.
He's been calling me
to attend this meeting.
Oh, oh, oh!
EMAIL: HNUH BUDGET MEETING
Oh, then you have to go.
Yeah? Why?
I get that it's temporary.
However, you're still
the head of trauma surgery.
Hmm? Mm.
That said, don't go getting your hopes up.
And don't even…
It's your first time,
so you probably won't
get a say in anything.
Hmm. Here's the thing.
I'm actually an expert
at crashing things like this.
Ah! You got a call from Ji-yeong.
HANKUK NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
BUDGET MEETING
The next doctor invited to enter is head
of general surgery and colorectal surgery.
Han Yu-rim. Where is he?
Yes sir!
Right here.
-Hello.
-Hello.
-Good morning.
-Good morning.
Good morning.
-Hello, sir.
-Good morning.
You may enter.
-One, two. Mic test.
-Jae-hun!
Hello, Dr. Han.
You forget that we're
in a formal setting now.
Ah. My apologies, Director Hong.
That's better.
So I hear that you've
discovered something.
I did.
Baek Kang-hyuk's history
is quite fascinating.
And today, we're going to bury him alive.
Ha!
Head of Biomedical Engineering,
Dr. An Jeong-hyeon.
Head of Hematology Oncology,
Dr. Shin Hyeon-jeong.
Yes. You may enter now.
Hold it. Please wait
for your name to be called.
Why can't we all just go inside right now?
It's standard procedure.
Yes, you may go in.
Next is the Head of Nuclear Medicine,
Dr. Jung Hyeon-mi.
Yes. You may enter.
Next up is Dr. Lee Gi-beom
of Allergy Medicine.
"Standard procedure."
Who gives a shit?
Heads of subspecialty departments
are not taken seriously.
You'll be lucky
if they even let you speak at all.
Plus, they're probably gonna
cut our budget anyway, you know?
And heads of sub-specialties,
you may now proceed inside.
Christ. How many are there?
A lot!
And, you know,
we're not the only specialty
that wants some of
the trauma center's funding.
Any department that sees
even one trauma patient a year
will want a piece of the pie.
That's why I'm saying
they're most likely to use the funding
to purchase shared equipment.
Which means
that you're walking into a war zone
with no allies.
"ACTING" HEAD OF TRAUMA SURGERY
BAEK KANG-HYUK
The hospital director has arrived.
-Mm. Mm.
-Sir.
Right.
Let's begin the meeting right away.
Director Hong?
This year, Hankuk National
University Hospital has finally reached
the ultimate milestone
of 30 billion won in profit.
Yes, you've all done very well.
And the undisputed top earner is, uh…
Ah, this is exciting.
For the second year in a row,
the funeral hall.
Uh, the funeral hall is unbeatable, huh?
In second place, the parking garage.
Third place is the cafeteria.
In fourth place…
In fourth place is…
Neurosurgery.
Congratulations!
Dr. No has been recognized as
a leading expert in gamma knife surgery,
which has led to a spike in revenue.
It's almost on par with the cafeteria.
Look at that.
Just a moment.
Dr. No.
You have done very well.
Another round of applause!
Amazing!
If departments had to fistfight
for money, Dr. Baek would win out.
It's so sad.
Ah, yeah, that is unfortunate.
Oh, by the way.
You remember the day
that Dr. Baek took us out for dinner?
Yes.
I arrived at the restaurant
before you two.
-Yes.
-Do you know who I saw?
Who?
I remember
following the waitress.
As I'm walking, I look over and see…
Good evening.
Good evening.
Whoa.
-Huh?
-Hi.
I reserved a room for us.
Was it adultery?
What?
Well, I've always known him
as a single father.
No! I'm telling you, they didn't have
married-couple chemistry.
He was on his best behavior.
He even held the door open for her.
No, I don't think so.
-Uh, well, then what?
-I…
Just a minute.
This is Yang Jae-won speaking.
Traffic accident?
It's in-car? Thanks. Bye.
At least it's in-car. There should be
less damage than a pedestrian accident.
Let's get the resuscitation room
prepared for now.
Oh, aren't you going to message Dr. Baek?
Uh… We should assess the patient first.
-He's still in the meeting.
-That's true.
Please turn your attention
to this chart.
We'll be discussing the deficit situation
at Hankuk National University Hospital.
HNUH PROFIT STANDINGS
THORACIC SURGERY
Cardiac surgery.
It's around 342 million won at this point.
Who's in charge there?
Ah. Well, you have done better
compared to last year.
Yes, that's right, sir.
Obstetrics and gynecology have also
improved at under 100 million won.
Mm. Dr. An, going forward,
let's just work a little harder
to get into the black, huh? You can do it.
Oh, I will!
Let's see.
Urology and rehabilitation medicine.
The other departments
aren't particularly noteworthy.
Now trauma surgery.
Bear in mind
that the figures for trauma surgery
are from the last month only.
Trauma surgery.
A 412.52 million won deficit!
My goodness. That's crazy!
Well, Dr. Baek.
That is a pretty large number? Yeah?
Apologies. However, your, uh,
calculations are a little off.
You should include the ten billion
that the trauma center received.
And that puts us
well into the black, right?
That funding is for
the hospital as a whole,
not just your department, understand?
Because anesthesiology,
emergency medicine,
and any other relevant department
may be involved in treating your patients.
Well, in that case, that would mean
that the loss should be attributed to
the entire hospital,
not just our department, don't you think?
Come on. That's a separate issue.
That's not what we're discussing.
This figure here is what's relevant.
Ah! You're saying you want
to share this money,
and yet you want our department
to take care of the mess?
What did you just say?
My fellow doctors, come on.
We're all here to save lives, aren't we?
Aren't we?
Settle down now. This is serious.
Show some decorum, Doctor. Huh?
Baek Kang-hyuk.
We acknowledge all the hard work
you've done saving trauma patients--
Yes, well, I appreciate
your acknowledgment.
If you look at recent statistics,
you'll find that the survival rate
of trauma patients
has dramatically increased
ever since my arrival.
Uh, yes, yes, yes. Congratulations.
But congratulations aside,
we'd like to see a dramatic decrease
in your department's losses.
Over nine billion won of that funding
will be allocated to the equipment budget.
This decision is final.
So you might as well
put that discussion to rest.
What is this bastard thinking?
Uh, I apologize.
You really have a way
with words, Director.
'Cause that joke was hilarious.
What does that mean?
You… you weren't joking?
Well, then, that's one billion won
minus the deficit,
which leaves
around 500 million won and change.
And you're saying
that's all we can use until next year?
You must be completely off your rocker.
That makes no sense.
Baek Kang-hyuk!
You are really pushing it, I swear to God!
Director Choi is being very gracious,
and this is how you respond?
You son of a bitch.
You'd better apologize!
What?
You talking to me?
-You really want me to lay into you too?
-Go ahead. Try me.
Try me! Do it, asshole! Let's go!
After I'm through with you today,
you won't be able to show your face.
Traffic accident. No pulse.
-When did she lose consciousness?
-Two minutes since flatline.
I'll assess the patient first.
Just wait a second.
Is her next of kin on their way?
We can't get in touch with them.
Ji-yeong.
Dr. Jae-won.
I've been accepted to the medical school
at Hankuk National University.
Really?
Well, congratulations.
Just like your father.
Actually,
I'm following in your footsteps.
Guess that makes you my senior now, right?
Let's transfer her
to a bed first.
Dr. Yang.
Right now,
the patient's pulse is undetectable!
Ji-yeong! Ji-yeong!
One, two, three!
-We need to call Dr. Baek right now!
-Okay!
-Hurry up!
-Quickly.
Okay, let's hurry.
This way. Hurry.
You act all high-and-mighty
'cause you've saved a few patients.
You think that gives you the right
to look down on me
because I'm just a colorectal surgeon.
Fine. Go ahead.
We all know who the real money-grubber is,
you hypocritical jerk!
I'm totally confused right now.
Right. You wouldn't know.
But I've heard things.
Fellow doctors, Baek Kang-hyuk
has been hiding something from us,
and when I'm done with revealing
your true nature today, you'll…
-Don't take that!
-Yeah, what?
Are you serious?
-How dare you take a call!
-Yes, go ahead.
I got a call too, but I'll ignore it!
I rejected my call,
so hurry up and end your call!
We're not done! This bastard is…
What is this?
-Dr. Han.
-What is this about?
Your daughter is Han Ji-yeong, right?
She is in the ER right now.
-She was in a traffic accident.
-Wait a minute. What are you saying?
-Your daughter was in a traffic accident.
-Are you sure it's really her?
-You're with Dr. Baek, right?
-Wait. Say that again.
-We're doing CPR. Get here right now.
-What?
Hurry!
CPR? You're saying…
How bad is it that she needs CPR?
All right, I'm coming!
Hold on.
Goodbye!
Baek Kang-hyuk! Baek Kang-hyuk!
Baek Kang-hyuk!
Baek. Baek Kang… Baek…
Dr. Baek! Wait a second!
I didn't really mean that--
-Would you get out of the way?
-No, wait, wait! You can't go.
Save my daughter first!
She was in a traffic accident.
They're performing CPR,
but they really need your help right now.
I'll die if anything happens to her.
She's my only daughter.
I raised her on my own.
Pl… please, will you?
Can you just save my Ji-yeong first?
Hmm?
I'm going to save your daughter right now.
You are the one keeping me from her.
It could already be too late.
Ji-yeong.
Ji-yeong!
Ji-yeong!
-Epinephrine. Epinephrine. Right now!
-Okay. All right.
Epinephrine is in.
Ji-yeong!
Her father's gonna be here any second!
-Hold on! Ji-yeong!
-Dr. Han! Dr. Han!
-Dr. Baek!
-Ji-yeong! Let go!
Number One, I need you level-headed.
Do you understand?
-Yes!
-What is this?
-Get the defibrillator ready.
-Yes!
-Ji-yeong! Ji-yeong!
-Hold on!
Move! Get out of my way! Move, damn it!
-Don't let him in.
-Yes, sir.
Step back! Get off! I'm fine! Let go!
Look at me. Look at me.
-Calm down, Doctor.
-Get off!
-You can't see her now! You can't go in!
-Hell, I can't! Who says I can't?
-That's my daughter!
-That's exactly why you can't go in there!
Let go!
Ji-yeong. Ji-yeong.
Just tell me. Is it bad?
It is.
Oh no…
Oh no…
This can't be.
Oh my God. Ji-yeong. Ji-yeong.
Even if you were to go in,
you'd only get in the way.
We'll let you see her when things settle.
Just wait…
Wait a minute.
But if it…
If it looks like things are…
are turning really bad,
just let me see her, then.
Promise me.
Please?
I'll do that.
Catheter.
150 mg of amiodarone.
-Prepare intubation.
-Yes, sir!
V-fib.
-Get down.
-Right.
Charge to 200 joules.
Charged to 200.
Clear.
Shock.
Still in V-fib.
Charge again.
Okay.
Charged.
Clear.
Shock.
What is it?
Is she alive?
Her heart rate's normal.
Oh, thank you.
God, thank you. I thank you so much!
We're gonna perform an echocardiogram.
Hold on! Hold on! Wait a minute.
But a trauma surgeon
can't read an echocardiogram. Just wait.
I'll call a cardiologist.
So just wait a minute. Let me talk to him.
-Nurse Cheon?
-Hurry, go back now.
A trauma surgeon
can't read an echocardiogram.
Number One.
What does that look like to you?
Doctor, this…
She needs surgery.
Are you close with the patient?
Sit out if you can't do this,
or you'll just be in the way.
I'll be fine.
I will, Dr. Baek.
-Anesthesiology.
-I'll call them.
DR. HAN YU-RIM
-Dr. Han?
-Jesus, Jae-min.
What took you so long to answer the phone?
There's an emergency! Hurry here now!
-What do you mean?
-You don't understand! It's Ji-yeong!
It's my daughter! She's in the ER!
Ji-yeong is?
Jae-min, please come
and read her echocardiogram. It's bad!
Hey, wait! Wait! Hey, hey! Ji-yeong!
Ji-yeong. Where are you going?
-Where are you taking her?
-Go on. I'll be right there.
-Jae-won. Where are you going?
-Dr. Han!
Snap out of it! Settle down!
Listen carefully.
Your daughter… suffered a heart rupture.
Heart rupture?
Over 90% of her left ventricular
lateral wall is torn.
Are you sure? What if you misread it?
You're not listening.
Her heart is ruptured,
which means she needs surgery now!
What if…
Will you take responsibility
if something goes wrong?
Yes! I'll take responsibility for it!
Hey! Hey! Hey!
Hey, hey, hey!
What the hell's going on?
Dr. Han. Do whatever it takes to stop him.
Wait. You can't all be serious!
You're going into surgery right now?
What? And without my consent?
Standard for emergency surgeries.
Wait! Take another look
at the echocardiogram.
I've already seen it!
What's the point?
I don't trust you!
What's that?
If you have a grudge against me,
then you're gonna take it out on her.
Hey, Number One.
Come here. Bring Gangster with you.
Yes, sir.
-Okay. Start the anesthesia!
-Okay.
Yes?
This is
Han Ji-yeong's next of kin.
I know.
Yes! Yes! I'm her next of kin.
So, everyone,
wait until cardiology arrives.
He's asking us to wait
until her heart is about to burst.
Does that seem sane?
Uh, now isn't really the time.
If the next of kin lacks sound judgment
due to being mentally incapacitated
or for similar reasons,
the consent of two doctors is deemed
adequate to proceed with surgery. Right?
-Yes, that's right.
-What kind of bullshit is that?
He's not in his right mind.
So give consent for him.
-I have consented.
-Son of a bitch! You better not--
-Just stop!
-You crazy bastard.
-What consent? Consent?
-Calm down.
-If you mess this up, you could kill her!
-BP dropping.
-What if she dies?
-Dr. Baek!
-You can't.
-We need to crack her chest now!
-Just try to calm down for now.
-You can't.
Don't worry, Dr. Han.
Jae-won. Don't do it! No! You can't!
At this rate,
Ji-yeong is gonna end up dead!
I consent!
Hey, how could you? How could you?
No, no! No!
Oh no! You can't.
SURGERY IN PROGRESS
Please. Look, please?
Just open the door, okay?
Open the door.
-What do you think you're doing?
-Han Yu-rim!
Oh, Jesus Christ! Oh, Jae-min.
Help! Baek Kang-hyuk
has taken my daughter into an OR.
He hasn't started, right?
Let me in!
-Quick!
-Just step back!
-Get out of the way now!
-You can't come in.
I'm a cardiovascular specialist!
-I can't let you in!
-Please!
Let me in.
Let me in.
Just open the door.
NAME: HAN JI-YEONG, GENDER: FEMALE
HEART RUPTURE
-He cracked her chest!
-Hey, just hold still.
Number One. Stay focused.
Cut.
Scissors.
God! Oh my God!
A rupture?
It is?
Gangster,
get them out of here.
-Ji-yeong.
-Dr. Baek.
There's too much bleeding.
Give me a glove.
-Pardon?
-A surgical glove. Now!
Hurry up!
Block the bleed.
With my hand?
-Block it!
-Yes, sir.
-Dr. Han!
-Dr. Han!
-Dr. Han! Dr. Han! Wake up!
-Dr. Baek. What do we do?
Dr. Baek. Do something. Anything!
Keep it blocked.
I'm gonna cover it up.
The patient will die before we can get
the surgical field properly stitched up.
You're using that?
How are you gonna use a glove…
Move your hand.
Come on! Stitch it up.
Okay. Placing sutures.
Move out of the way!
Ji-yeong!
Ji-yeong.
Where is she? Ji-yeong?
Jesus. Closing a wound
with a surgical glove?
You need to study more.
You call yourself a trauma surgeon,
and you didn't know about that?
How would I know
if I've never learned it?
This doesn't come out in textbooks.
Hey. You think this is over?
Sorry, Doctor.
Listen up.
The surgical glove will only
buy us about ten minutes.
We have ten minutes
to finish reinforcement.
Everyone, stay focused.
Suture.
First, we reset the pericardium
with wider margins than the glove.
So we cover the glove
and then suture it.
Uh, Dr. Baek, but
do we leave the glove in place?
I know it's sterile, but would…
Are you insane?
Of course we'll remove it.
Bring me an endoscope.
An endoscope?
The ones in the old building?
Used for nasal surgery?
You have five minutes. Run!
Huh?
Yes. That's the message
Dr. Baek wanted me to convey.
Oh.
A nasal endoscope used for heart surgery?
I've never heard of such a thing.
Uh, Dr. Han?
Move, move! Wait, wait, wait! Where is it?
Otolaryngology.
Wait. This… this way.
Oh, everyone's so stressed.
Oh, I didn't know
that was even possible.
-Okay. All done.
-Whoa.
Dr. Park,
how's her blood pressure?
120 over 80. It's perfect.
Okay. Next.
Next?
We close her up.
Surgery is over.
How did it go?
Ji…
-Ji-yeong is alive. She's alive, Yu-rim.
-She's--
She's alive?
So she's…
She's okay?
Trauma surgeries like these
are the main cause of the budget deficit.
Thank you.
What did you say?
I said, "Thank you!"
So do you get it now?
Why we need this department?
There's no predicting when an accident
like this will happen again.
Severe trauma can happen to anyone.
Dr. Baek.
Dr. Baek, thank you.
You saved my daughter's life.
Wait, uh…
Open your eyes. Huh?
It's Dad. It's your dad.
Ji-yeong.
Hey, Anus.
-Yes?
-Yes? Huh?
Thought you were calling me.
No, this Anus.
Number One just sounds wrong.
How's the patient?
Uh, spontaneous breathing is good.
We're holding off on sedatives
until she wakes.
Wait, the operation
was a success, right? Huh?
Keep calling her name out.
She'll respond to a familiar voice.
Ji-yeong.
Ji-yeong, open your eyes.
It's Dad.
Ji-yeong, can you hear my voice?
Han Ji-yeong. Try opening your eyes now.
Ji-yeong. Ji-yeong!
Ji-yeong! Ji-yeong, can you see Dad?
Do you recognize your dad? Ji-yeong, you…
-Maybe unfamiliar voices too, I guess.
-We're in a hospital right now.
Please, stay calm.
The patient needs absolute rest.
Wait, wait. Just, just, just wait. Wait.
Baek Kang-hyuk, I'm so very grateful.
But I don't know how
I can possibly repay you for this.
Thank you so much.
Yeah.
There are plenty of ways, Doctor.
Don't worry.
Here you go.
Thank you again.
Yu-rim, let's start
by discussing the budget, yeah?
Oh, yes. Yes.
I'll put a good word in
with Director Hong.
Also, Dr. Han is what my colleagues say.
I'd prefer if you called me
that rather than Yu-rim.
Okay, I get it.
Appreciate that.
Enough of that. Why don't we get back
to the matter at hand?
Uh, which is?
I hear there are… stories floating around.
Oh, right, that.
Just who the hell is
this Baek Kang-hyuk, hmm?
You would know, right?
You were in
Doctors for International Peace, yeah?
That's right.
He was always an outsider.
You worked with him for six years.
You'd have an idea, right?
Not the whole six.
He wasn't with us last year.
Huh? He wasn't there last year?
I heard that certain groups
were scouting Dr. Baek.
Sounded super shady.
Shady?
I think it was in Afghanistan.
I heard he made a lot of money.
He would save lives
and take them away.
Take lives?
It was a conflict zone.
Scalpels weren't always enough.
He used firearms too.
No!
What was the name of that group again?
Ah!
"Black Wings."
That crazy bastard.
They let a murderer like that
into our hospital!
At tomorrow's meeting,
I will reveal all of this.
I haven't told anybody else.
Not one single person.
Don't worry.
But, you know,
you do act like a dangerous man.
I heard it was the largest private
military company in the world.
Well, anyways,
I looked into it.
You didn't actually
do everything they said, right?
You didn't kill people, right?
Dr. Han.
I can't imagine you doing
something like that for money.
Sh.
Dr. Han.
Remember these words well.
What you don't know… can't hurt you.
What the…
Since Dr. Beck's arrival,
our trauma center has been crazy.
And the thing with Ji-yeong too.
And remember Lee Gi-yeong?
He was driving here after they told him
his father was brain-dead,
but he got into an accident.
The medics even took him
to the same hospital as his dad.
And because the dad was an organ donor,
it meant that
his son received the donor liver.
Wow.
I wonder if that's the reason.
His recovery is incredibly fast.
He's already off the ventilator.
And I heard Lee Hye-yeong also
regained consciousness this morning.
They're probably
with each other right now.
You're here.
You okay?
It's an intense job
working at the trauma center,
but the experience is always rewarding.
Are you crying?
-I'm not crying.
-No.
What's wrong with you?
Don't you ever
get emotional at work?
Why would I?
They're both alive. So what is it?
It was just really sad!
God. What if their blood pressure rises?
Things could get really serious.
Oh. Look, they finally arrived.
…trauma center right here.
I'm debuting today on TV.
Huh?
Organ donation falls under
the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
Right.
They said they'd never seen
a case like this.
They offered
to foot the entire bill for us.
Really?
Yeah.
Ah. In exchange for getting the story?
Well, I have no reason to tell them no.
All I have to do is say,
"Thank you, thank you," and it's done.
Plus, it's free PR,
and we really need that now.
What do you mean?
I've gotten into a number of dirty fights
over the years.
And do you know what the secret
to always winning a fight is?
You have to overwhelm the other side.
So that means
we need as many people
as we can get on our side.
Yes, I'm coming.
You coming?
No, thank you.
I'm gonna keep studying for now.
You do that.
-Please say a few words.
-Dr. Baek!
Do you have any comments
about the accident?
You saved so many lives.
Just like you wanted.
This will be broadcasted live.
We already made local news.
Why not go nationwide?
Dr. Baek Kang-hyuk.
My name is Nam Su-ho of Goryeo TV.
I must say that I was very touched
to hear the story.
Tell us. As the first doctor
to treat them, could you explain…
Whose phone is that?
Turn it off.
-Come on, turn it off!
-Oh, oh, oh.
AN JUNG-HEON
NATIONAL RESCUE UNI
-Turn it off, please.
-Hello. Dr. Baek of trauma surgery.
Just a moment. Huh?
Huh? Hello?
I can't hear you.
I'm a little busy right now.
Just a moment. Just a moment.
Hello?
Ah, shut it!
Just shut it!
Ah. Yes, Mr. An?
No, I wasn't speaking to you, Mr. An.
It sounds like there's a patient
in need of urgent care.
Oh. This actually exists.
"Black Wings."
"Black Wings."
-Yes, Dr. Baek?
-Number One.
Hey, have you overcome
your fear of heights yet?
No.
Well, it's time to ride again.
Don't forget my shoes and the trauma kit.
Just come to the heliport.
Yep.
Huh?
Huh?
Huh?
-Hold this.
-Yes, Dr. Baek.
Huh?
Huh?
Dr. Baek, by the way,
do you know the "Black Wings"?