One Dozen Things
America is a Litigious Society
Scenario Script
A man and a woman are sitting in waiting area; after a few minutes, a doctor enters.
Doctor: Mr. Stone, Mrs. Stone…your mother has just left the operating room.
Mrs. Stone: Is she going to be alright?
Doctor: Well, there were some problems…
Mr. Stone: Problems? What do you mean?
Doctor: Well, her heart wasn’t as strong as we thought it was, and we couldn’t keep her blood pressure where it needed to be and….
Mrs. Stone: And?
Doctor: She didn’t get enough oxygen to her brain for a while…
Mr. Stone: Oh my God!
Mrs. Stone: What does that mean? Did she have a stroke?
Doctor: Well, it may be too early to call it a stroke...but she may have some residual deficits…
Mrs. Stone: [looking at Mr. Stone] Residual deficits? [looking back at the doctor and getting frustrated] What does that mean? Stop with the double talk!
Doctor: [very hesitantly] Your mother may have some difficulty speaking.
Mr. Stone: Oh my God...
