making Jack glad the man had not gone into brain surgery.
‘I still respect my patients’ confidentiality,’ he said.
‘I can understand your position from an ethical point of view,’ Jack
said. ‘But I should remind you that we medical examiners in the State of
New York have subpoena power in such a circumstance. So, why don’t we
just have a conversation? Who knows, we might be able to clear things
up.’
‘What do you want to know?’ Dr. Levitz asked.
‘I learned from reading Mr. Franconi’s extensive hospital history that
he’d had a long bout with liver problems leading to liver failure,’ Jack
said.
Dr. Levitz nodded, which caused his right shoulder to jerk several
times. Jack waited until these involuntary movements subsided.
‘To come right to the point,’ Jack said, ‘the big question is whether or
not Mr. Franconi had a liver transplant.’
At first Levitz did not speak. He merely twitched. Jack was determined
to wait the man out.
‘I don’t know anything about a liver transplant,’ Dr. Levitz said
finally.
‘When did you see him last?’ Jack asked.
Dr. Levitz picked up his phone and asked one of his assistants to bring
in Mr. Carlo Franconi’s record.
‘It will just be a moment,’ Dr. Levitz said.
‘In one of Mr. Franconi’s hospital admissions about three years ago, you
specifically wrote that it was your opinion that a transplant would be
necessary. Do you remember writing that?’
‘Not specifically,’ Dr. Levitz said. ‘But I was aware of a deteriorating
condition, as well as Mr. Franconi’s failure to stop drinking.’
‘But you never mentioned it again,’ Jack said. ‘I found that surprising
when it was easy to see a gradual but relentless deterioration in his
liver function tests over the next couple of years.’
‘A doctor can only do so much to influence his patient’s behavior,’ Dr.
Levitz said.
The door opened and the deferential receptionist brought in a fat
folder. Wordlessly she placed it on Dr. Levitz’s desk and withdrew.
Dr. Levitz picked it up and, after a quick glance, said that he’d seen
Carlo Franconi a month previously.
‘What did you see him for?’
‘An upper respiratory infection,’ Dr. Levitz said. ‘I prescribed some
antibiotic. Apparently, it worked.’
‘Did you examine him?’
‘Of course!’ Dr. Levitz said with indignation. ‘I always examine my
patients.’
‘Had he had a liver transplant?’
‘Well, I didn’t do a complete physical,’ Dr. Levitz explained. ‘I
examined him appropriately in reference to his complaint and his
symptoms.’
‘You didn’t even feel his liver, knowing his history?’ Jack asked.
‘I didn’t write it down if I did,’ Dr. Levitz said.
‘Did you do any blood work that would reflect liver function?’ Jack
asked.
‘Only a bilirubin,’ Dr. Levitz said.
‘Why only a bilirubin?’
‘He’d been jaundiced in the past,’ Dr. Levitz said. ‘He looked better,
but I wanted to document it.’
‘What was the result?’ Jack asked.
‘It was within normal limits,’ Dr. Levitz said.
‘So, except for his upper respiratory infection, he was doing quite
well,’ Jack said.
‘Yes, I suppose you could say that,’ Dr. Levitz said.
‘Almost like a miracle,’ Jack said. ‘Especially as you’ve already
mentioned the man was unwilling to curb his alcohol intake.’
‘Perhaps he finally had stopped,’ Dr. Levitz said. ‘After all, people
can change.’
‘Would you mind if I looked at his record?’ Jack asked.
‘Yes, I would mind,’ Dr. Levitz said. ‘I’ve already stated my ethical
position about confidentiality. If you want these records, you will have
to subpoena them. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be obstructive.’
‘That’s quite all right,’ Jack said agreeably. He stood up. ‘I’ll let
the state’s attorney’s office know how you feel. Meanwhile, thanks for
your time, and if you don’t mind, I’ll probably be talking with you in
the near future. There’s something very strange about this case, and I
intend to get to the bottom of it.’
Jack smiled to himself, as he undid the locks on his bike. It was so
obvious that Dr. Levitz knew more than he was willing to say. How much
more, Jack didn’t know, but certainly it added to the intrigue. Jack had
an intuitive sense that not only was this the most interesting case he’d