Original subtitles

Stay calm! Keep your head down!

It's okay. Stay calm. It's all right.

It's okay. It's okay.

Calm down. Calm down.

Malak!

-You made it! -Go.

Prepare for transfusion. Hurry!

Where are the antibiotics?

THE TRAUMA CODE: HEROES ON CALL

Now to some unfortunate news.

It's been reported that a hit-and-run victim died

while being transported to the hospital early yesterday morning.

The ambulance transporting the victim

had to visit as many as five hospitals that day.

Ultimately, the final hospital they arrived at had no choice

but to pronounce them dead.

Furthermore, it has come to light that already this year,

there have been 13 similar cases across the country.

Given the number of such cases,

there have been growing concerns that South Korea's trauma response system

may not be adequately functioning.

A trauma center is a specialized facility

that treats emergency patients with critical injuries.

Trauma centers are designed to go beyond the treatment scope

of our general emergency rooms.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to invest generously

over the next five years to upgrade and expand these facilities.

We will ensure they have adequate staffing,

as well as more facilities and state-of-the-art equipment.

All of these deaths… are senseless!

But this chaos will stop now that I'm minister! I give you my word!

MINISTER OF HEALTH AND WELFARE KANG MYEONG-HUI

I said all that at my swearing in.

Hmm?

But just look at the current state of things.

Take a look at yourselves!

You're directors of the most prestigious hospitals in the country.

So then why can't you do better? Why, why, why?

Director Choi Jo-eun?

Yes? Yes, Minister?

Hankuk National University. You received funding. Tell us.

How much did you accept for the Trauma Unit?

Oh, uh…

Ten billion won! It was ten billion won!

We've gotten our money's worth out of that?

If it were up to me,

the Trauma Unit would be running smoothly as we speak.

And yet…

However, there is only one person in the country

that's a bona fide trauma specialist.

And he collapsed recently.

Yes.

-He was being overworked. -Exactly.

Now, before that, Dr. Kwon had done a brilliant job leading the Trauma Unit.

But now our hands are tied, unfortunately.

Everyone witnessed Dr. Kwon Hak-su's collapse that day,

and we haven't found anyone else who is willing to take on that position.

I know somebody.

You do?

HANKUK NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

I've invited him here.

He's brilliant at what he does, and he's come from very far away.

He should be arriving soon.

Pediatrics Dr. An Jeong-won,

please come to OR 12.

I repeat, Dr. An Jeong-won…

Dr. Kim Da-yun, please come to OR 9.

Dr. Kwon Hak-su of Hankuk National University Hospital,

known as a pioneer in the field of trauma, has reportedly collapsed due to fatigue.

Dr. Kwon, the lone specialist in the field…

More like severely overworked.

…ever since he set foot in Hankuk National University Hospital.

Dr. Kwon's excessive workload has been attributed

to the lack of a stable working environment.

Yang Jae-won of general surgery.

Dr. Yang, a trauma patient is arriving by ambulance.

Stab wound to the left upper abdomen, and unconscious.

Patient number 37?

Can't get a blood pressure reading? What about a central line?

I'm coming right now!

Dr. No Seung-hyeon of neurosurgery, please come to the ER.

Once again, Dr. No Seung-hyeon of neurosurgery, please come to the ER.

REGIONAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL CENTER

New patient. Stab wound to the left abdomen.

-Resuscitation room. -Okay.

BP is dropping. It's at 60.

Let's intubate. Careful not to touch the knife.

-Yes, sir. -One, two, three.

Heart rate is dangerously low.

UNKNOWN MALE UPPER ABDOMINAL STAB WOUND

At least there isn't much bleeding with the knife still in place.

-Check his BP. -Right.

Be careful cutting around that. Gotta keep the knife in place.

-Yes, sir. -Intubation is done.

-BP's still dropping. It's 50! -50?!

All right, well, he needs a CT scan, so let's prepare.

-Yes, sir. -Just… just… just wait!

Just wait.

What is this?

It's a bruise.

-Stethoscope. -Here.

There's blood accumulating in the pericardium.

It's putting pressure on the heart.

Cardiac tamponade. Call cardiothoracic surgery.

They'll be able to drain the fluid, so prepare a spinal needle and ultrasound.

Yes, Doctor.

Quickly. Come on!

Everyone in cardiothoracic is in surgery. They'll be another two hours.

-They know it's cardiac tamponade? -They're working on a heart rupture.

Ah! Jesus, you're kidding.

What do I do? Should I do the puncture myself?

What if his heart isn't the issue?

Shouldn't we get a CT scan first to be sure?

Uh, better do a scan.

His BP is getting too low. It's 40!

-Uh, I'll… -Shouldn't we do the puncture?

Doctor!

All right! I'll do it. Yeah. Pass it here.

-All right. I'm doing it. -Right.

-I'm gonna do it. Okay. -Yeah.

-Okay. Here I go. -Right.

The hell are you?

Xiphoid Process. 45 degrees to the left.

You can't do that. You…

Huh?

Huh?

-Uh… -Whoa!

His BP is stabilizing.

Huh? Oh.

Oh!

Who are you?

Hey. You're an emergency doctor, and you can't even do a centesis properly?

What?

My specialty is the anus.

So why are you in the ER?

Because I'm on call.

We take turns. It goes general, cardiothoracic, then neurosurgery.

Gotta be kidding me.

Uh, what?

-What? -Wha…

Hey, wait.

Are you even a doctor?

Whatever the case, I appreciate your help, but you can't be in here.

This is my territory.

I haven't finished yet.

What? Just who are you, anyway?

Well, as of today, I'm this hospital's trauma surgeon.

What? That can't be.

Oh. Are… are you the one taking over Dr. Kwon's p… position?

This isn't your territory.

It's mine now.

I'm Baek Kang-hyuk.

Hey, Anus.

What's your plan now?

Uh… I'm Yang Jae-won. That's my name.

I'll decide when to call you by name.

So what will you do now?

Do now?

Uh, the cardiac tamponade's been treated.

So now we need to do a CT scan?

CT scan.

There was a… broken knife blade found at the scene today.

Hey, Anus.

It's important to assess the patient's current condition,

but it's also important to understand the circumstances of the accident too.

-Do you understand? -Pardon? Yes, I know that.

Good.

So have you established where and how the patient was stabbed?

No.

Gang-related? And the weapon?

Sashimi knife. Stab wound to the upper abdomen.

Huh?

Based on that, I surmised that the stab wound wasn't too serious,

so I just pulled the knife out.

What happened?

Well, there wasn't as much bleeding as I expected.

That's right. He was stabbed with a knife that was already broken,

so it's a shallow wound.

Which means, what?

His BP's going up and down. He's completely unresponsive.

The cardiac tamponade is to blame for that.

What's the next step, then?

The next step. Well…

-Hmm. Give me the gauze. -Here.

Gauze? Why… why do we need gauze?

The patient still hasn't regained consciousness.

That means there's also an issue there.

It's gonna burst right now.

What? What do you mean it's gonna--

What the hell?

-Prep for surgery immediately. -Yes, sir.

Surgery?

The hand of God?

Guess he's able to save patients from the brink of death

with nothing more than a scalpel or something.

I've never heard of him. Maybe he didn't go to Hankuk University.

-Did he study abroad? -No, Muhan University.

What? Seriously?

Muhan University?

Even so, he spent time abroad as well.

Where?

Doctors for International Peace.

Thought you were being serious. That's a volunteer organization.

And it's hardly important work.

I know. He's a legend, nonetheless.

He spent around six years in Syria,

encountering every single kind of trauma that there is.

You're saying he did grunt work?

How'd he manage to get a job at a trauma center, then? Huh?

There's only one answer.

Nepotism, right?

Someone high up gave him a position here.

So who was it, huh?

The one who brought this guy to our hospital?

Kang Myeong-hui.

Kang Myeong-hui?

Hey, wait a minute.

Kang Myeong-hui?

The… the one I already know? That Kang Myeong-hui?

The Minister of Health and Welfare

is appearing at the appointment ceremony of an attending physician?

I don't know. Kah Myeong-hui, Kang Myeong-hui… whatever her name is.

I can't be bothered. Ugh!

What does she expect to accomplish by appointing a single doctor?

Oh, this whole thing is a disaster. It really is.

EMERGENCY ROOM, HNUH

-Yeah, what? -Dr. Hwang, this is the ER.

You're the anesthesiologist on call for the Trauma Unit.

Just transfer it to another hospital. I'm not doing that.

Uh, Dr. Hwang, the patient is too critical to do that.

You're asking me to come in right now?

Uh, no, it's not that--

-I'm off in this afternoon. -What's going on here?

You should've given me a heads-up so I could be prepared

if you thought there'd be surgeries today.

You haven't figured that out yet? You're a fourth-year resident! Come on!

When are you going to learn, huh? Time is running out!

Ugh, son of a bitch.

-You whiny little… -What?

What'd you just say? Who is this?

I'm the attending, asshole.

Attending?

Who the hell do you think you are

complaining that you should get a heads-up when it's an emergency?!

No, I was just trying to say…

-I was just on call yesterday-- -Cut the crap, and get the hell over here.

If you're not there by the time I get to the OR, you're finished.

Are we clear?!

Yes, sir. I'm sorry.

What the hell?

Dr. Baek!

Uh, well, all the ORs on the main floor are being used for surgeries.

Son of a…

However, the emergency OR is open. Right here.

Uh, it's been renovated with the available funding.

What a pathetic excuse of an OR.

Is it functional?

Well, it's never really been used.

Who's the current head of Trauma Surgery?

There isn't one.

So this entire place is a disaster? Yeesh.

Well, the emergency department has been supportive.

They've helped out here and there.

Jesus. This place is being run like a local deli.

All right, I'm here!

-Anesthesiology? -Yes.

It was… me on the phone earlier.

Hey, Buzz Cut.

Save the patient first.

Yes, sir.

Scalpel.

Hey, Anus. You're pretty quick on your feet.

This is nothing. By the way, my name isn't "Anus," it's--

Well, here it is.

A branch of the splenic artery was cut. That explains all the blood.

Oh.

"Oh"?

-Uh… -So tie it off already.

Right. I'll tie it off right away, but…

Where do I tie it off?

You can't see it?

Right angle.

Well, I suppose it's not visible to normal people.

Oh! Oh!

-You gonna tie it off? -Yes! Can I get a 3-0 Black Silk?

Hold on.

Dr. Baek, there's more blood oozing out than before.

This bastard can't be serious.

-Did… did I make a mistake? -Hey!

Yes?

-Did you use inotropics? -Yes.

Well, his blood pressure was only 60 over 40--

So you used inotropics?

This patient had centesis for a cardiac tamponade!

Yes, well, I just… It was only 60 over 40.

So you took a shortcut, and you fucked us over.

Hey, Resident, go get a different anesthesiologist.

Dr. Baek. I think you're being a bit unreasonable.

Unreason--

You screwed this patient over all for your own convenience.

You're not even a doctor, so you shouldn't be in the OR. Yeah?

We need to check on the heart,

so let's stitch him up and prepare for a thoracotomy.

Yes, Doctor.

Oh shit. He really threw that guy out?

I swear he's crazy.

This is the top surgery department in the country.

Where does some random general surgeon get off embarrassing an anesthesiologist?

Come on.

All right. So… who, then?

You know exactly who.

Park.

This is anesthesiology resident Park Gyeong-won.

Park, it's an emergency.

Get yourself to the emergency OR.

I'm studying right now. Could it be someone else?

Hey, Park, aren't you a fellow here?

I said it's an emergency surgery!

How dare you!

SURGERY IN PROGRESS

-By the way… -Yes?

Not you, the anesthesiologist.

Yes?

Did you lower the heart rate on purpose? It's moving less.

I figured it could be a rupture.

Your name, what is it?

Park Gyeong-won.

It is a rupture.

Now, let's speed up.

3-0, please.

Your call could not be connected. At the tone…

Where on earth could he be? He won't even pick up his phone.

The minister has arrived.

APPOINTMENT CEREMONY ATTENDING TRAUMA SURGEON BAEK KANG-HYUK

Hello there.

Hello.

Madam Minister, you made time to come all this way.

-It's an honor to have you. -Don't mention it.

I have very high hopes for Dr. Baek Kang-hyuk's performance here.

Actually, Dr. Baek isn't here yet.

Oh. Well, let's wait a while, then.

-Is this my seat? Okay. -Yes, this one. Yes.

Right. Hello. Take a seat.

Yes, take a seat.

CURRENT TIME - DURATION OF SURGERY

-What's taking him so long? -He couldn't make it here on time?

All right. Cut.

Okay, let's close the chest now.

Done.

One hour, 42 minutes.

This kind of operation usually takes much longer.

-Oh, Jesus! -You think that was fast?

Should've been over in an hour and a half. Took 12 minutes longer than that.

No thanks to your awful assistance.

It wasn't awful.

I'm running late now to my appointment ceremony.

Wonder if they started?

What?

I'm late already. Might as well see the patient wake up.

Aren't you going to go? It's your appointment ceremony.

I should see him first though.

I'll handle it. Don't even worry about it. You should go.

How strange.

-Let's wait a bit longer. -Of course.

I understand why Minister Kang recommended Baek Kang-hyuk.

Must be preparing for an audit.

The director must've said yes.

So he could put a no-name Muhan University grad in,

all for the sake of maintaining the Trauma Unit.

The thing I can't wrap my head around is,

why come to our hospital now, huh?

Must know he'd be an outcast here.

Does he not see the time?

He's here. He's finally here. Yes.

-That is so rude. -How inconsiderate.

-Uh, Dr. Baek. Dr. Baek, you're late. -Yes, I'm late.

I think it's best if you start by apologizing.

Oh, right. You should greet the minister first.

-Oh, it's all right. -Huh? Yeah, yeah.

She says it's all right.

Hi, everyone. I'm Baek Kang-hyuk, the new trauma attending.

The director would like me to start by apologizing to you all.

But I don't think I'll do that.

And honestly, I think I'm the one who should be receiving an apology.

I'm here because they offered me the attending position

and said they'd reorganize the Trauma Unit.

However, it seems like what they wanted was a figurehead and nothing more.

In any case, the reason why I've come here to your hospital

is so that the Trauma Team…

…can finally be shut down.

He being serious?

Dr. Baek, wait. What is this?

-Dr. Baek. Can we talk… privately? -Hold up a minute.

Uh, yes?

Uh, Baek Kang-hyuk, is it?

Right.

I think what you're saying is completely inappropriate.

Especially on your first day.

"I understand it'll be difficult, but I will do my very best."

Wouldn't that be more fitting?

Ah, I'm the attending colorectal surgeon and head of surgery, Dr. Han Yu-rim.

Nice to meet you.

Right. Dr. Hang Yu-rim.

No, it's not "Hang" Yu-rim. It's Han Yu-rim. Han Yu-rim.

Thank you for your kind words.

Uh, I actually tested the waters of your hospital right before this ceremony.

It's a complete disaster.

You've never had a dedicated trauma department,

and I was told that all the other doctors just take turns being on call.

-With no accountability to anyone. -Dr. Baek, I must insist--

You don't know a thing about trauma, do you?

The colorectal surgeon on call was clueless, yet he continued to work.

What?

I've never seen such sincere, such earnest efforts

to ensure that all your patients will not survive.

Absolutely ridiculous. I mean…

This system… this system is a train wreck.

So, of course, you're making a complete and total mess of it.

We've heard more than enough.

Hey, Baek Kang-hyuk! Watch your mouth!

Who the hell are you calling a quack?

Where do you get the right to say that?

I refuse to just sit around and watch someone kill their patient like that.

Which is why I did the surgery instead on my way over.

So I won't apologize for being late today.

And that's why

I'm shutting the Trauma Unit down!

You can't come here and do that!

You think you're better than us? Is that it?

You think this hospital is a joke?

Don't get the wrong idea about our staff, Minister.

Baek Kang-hyuk!

This Trauma Unit is nothing but a liability.

That's why it's getting shut down

and upgraded into a full-blown Trauma Center.

A center?

You think you can just do whatever you want?

-This is absolutely ridiculous! -Unbelievable!

Minister, I have your support?

Yes. Every step of the way.

I'll make sure your investment of ten billion won isn't wasted.

I will show you all that I am, in fact, the real deal.

That's all I have to say for now. I am… finished.

Wait. Who do you think you are?

-Dr. Baek. Dr. Baek. -Hey, come back here!

Hey!

You haven't apologized!

Where are you going?

Wait, Dr. Baek. Dr. Baek.

Listen here. You don't even belong in this room.

If I may add something to Dr. Baek's statement…

Dr. Baek may not be the most eloquent or naturally gifted of speakers,

but that doesn't mean that he's not right.

I guarantee you he's the best of the best.

Please give him a chance, for my sake.

Thank you very much.

Oh, uh, Madam Minister? Uh…

Good talk.

As a nickname? Seriously?

Let's go. Come on.

Dr. Baek called you "Anus" earlier.

Hey, that was just hazing. You understand?

That said, it seems like Dr. Baek's taken a liking to you.

Like he's taking you under his wing.

What? Well, that's a truly scary thought.

I mean, who would leave colorectal surgery,

the most prestigious field, to apply for trauma surgery?

Our hospital is a prime example.

Yes, we do have a Trauma Unit, but it's in name only.

Yeah, right.

Dr. Kwon Hak-su struggled all alone too. I refuse to do that.

Colorectal surgery is a much less stressful field as well.

There are rarely emergencies, which is quite good.

-The pay isn't bad too. -You're right.

You're perfectly suited to colorectal surgery.

That nickname's spot-on.

Appreciate the coffee.

Why is that so annoying but so right?

EMERGENCY ROOM, HNUH

Yang Jae-won, general surgery.

Ah, where is it?

APPOINTMENT CEREMONY ATTENDING TRAUMA SURGEON BAEK KANG-HYUK

Oh.

Take that side down first!

Where did he go?

Yes?

There's a patient I need to see.

Who are you?

Baek Kang-hyuk, attending physician of trauma surgery.

Nobody by that name works here though.

You can't just go around impersonating doctors, sir.

Hey, come on now.

I really am a doctor here.

I did a thoracotomy in there just this morning.

Don't be rude to me, all right?

That's because I'm here to see a patient right now.

And don't raise your voice at me. There are patients in here.

-Yes, I know. -What is the name of your patient?

I didn't look at the patient's name though.

Oh…

I have the name of the doctor who took the patient in.

And his name is…

It's…

Anus?

What's wrong with this asshole?

Hey, come on. Come on!

Come on!

Son of a bitch. This girl is…

Hey. Anus.

Going somewhere?

Baek, I was…

Baek? So I'm Baek to you now?

Oh no!

Forgive me. I've been looking for you.

Really? Why?

Bukhansan.

A patient fell off the hiking trail at Bukhansan.

It's serious trauma.

But their injuries are so severe

they're not sure they'll survive transportation.

And the helicopter transport?

Well, National Rescue Unit says they'll bring them here.

Tell the helicopter to stop by here first.

We'll go, and we'll treat them ourselves.

Okay.

We will?

That gonna be an issue?

You said "we"?

Me and you.

But for now…

Call me when the helicopter's ready, yeah? Get the trauma kit.

I'm gonna check on my patient.

Wait a minute! Hold on! I… I…

We're going in… a helicopter?

The two of us?

Right. Emergency ICU.

Internal?

So the emergency ICU is the backup for the main floor ICU?

Huh.

Who are you?

How did you get in here?

I recognize your voice.

Oh! That was you on the phone.

What's that? Let's go.

This is for medical professionals only. Get out!

I work here, you understand?

Ugh, whatever.

-And who are you? -You wanna know my name now?

Cheon Jang-mi.

That's it. Now get out.

-Leave. -Hey.

Come on now. Go!

-Hey! -Out. Get out.

-Not that way. This way. Let's go now! -Wait. You don't understand!

Just give me a moment!

Huh?

A tattoo?

He has them too.

I'm telling you, I dealt with that patient earlier.

"Dealt with"?

MEDICAL OXYGEN

Oh…

Oh… No, no, no, no.

-Let go of me! Let go. Let go! -How are you so strong?

-Hey! Stop resisting! -Are you a superhero?

Damn! This girl!

Just stay still for a second!

-Stop that! -Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!

-I'm outta here! -Call the police! Go!

Hey, hey, hey, hey!

-Call the police! Report him! -It's not what it looks like.

-This damn woman. Jesus Christ! Stop it! -Whoa! Just calm down.

Stay back!

Doctor, this man's in a gang!

No, he's not.

-Huh? -He's an attending.

He is. He's our new attending.

This is Dr. Baek Kang-hyuk.

Oh, oh…

-I apologize. -In a gang?

I think you're more likely to be the gangster.

It's just you said you "dealt with" the patient earlier.

Apologies.

All right, Nurse Cheon Jang-mi.

I know what to call you.

Your nickname's Gangster

from now on.

Huh?

Dr. Han Yu-Rim, please report to…

I thought that death was my only way out of the gang.

Thanks to your help, Doctor.

You even saved someone like me.

The kind of life you lead or the kind of work you're involved with

is not what's important.

As a doctor, I have a duty to my patients.

Actually,

it was a really good thing that I was the one operating on you.

Other doctors couldn't have done it. I'm saying you were really lucky.

If some quack had operated, you might have died today.

And I heard it's really hot down there these days.

Ah!And this doctor here.

This doctor played a vital role today in keeping you alive.

He stitched up a part of your stomach earlier.

And I bet that you won't even notice the scar there.

This man has the touch of God.

Are you… Are you talking about me, Doctor? Really?

Thank you so much.

AN JUNG-HEON

Is the helicopter ready?

Yes, of course. Right away. Yes. It's here. The helicopter.

All right. Best of luck.

Right. Nurse Jang-mi.

Hey, Gangster, check the patient's vitals every 30 minutes.

Ah. Yes, of course.

-Run, Anus. -Yes, sir.

"Anus"?

You're a gangster?

Ah…

It's just a dumb nickname.

Whoa! Whoa! Just wait! Dr. Baek!

What?

That's the wrong way! The heliport's that way!

-Where is it, then? -It's outside, over that way!

Ah shit! Why didn't you say that?

Wait? This is where it lands?

That's right. Dr. Baek, have a safe trip now.

-Not on your back! -What?

-Gotta wear it on your front, okay? -On my front?

-Or the propellers will catch you! -No, I can't. No, seriously!

Come on! Let's go!

Oh God! Wow. This is really happening.

Jesus!Ah! Oh no!

NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY 119 RESCUE UNIT

Oh God! Help me!

Official orders were given about a year ago,

but I admit that I've never flown with doctors before.

Well, this will be a frequent occurrence from now on.

Your name is?

My name is An Jung-heon, and I'm the team leader.

Have you flown in helicopters?

You don't seem nervous at all.

Yeah, this is pretty standard.

Well, I'd say… that's standard.

Hey, Anus. You gonna be able to work like that?

Well, I have a fear of heights.

You've got a ways to go, then.

The weather is overcast. Low visibility. It's pretty windy too.

Captain, I don't think we can get any closer.

Situation on the ground?

Patient is currently in a critical condition.

He's unconscious. He has a very weak pulse.

There's damage to his ribs.

There might've been an impact to the right side of his chest from the fall.

-How much longer can you hold out? -He needs treatment immediately.

You're bringing doctors, right?

We can't even transport him in his current state.

We'll lose the patient if he's not treated by a doctor right away.

All right, listen. We need to hurry up.

Too windy. It's preventing us from getting closer.

What?

We can't hold this position. We need to retreat.

Guess we've run out of options.

Uh… Huh?

-What's-- -Hold on tight.

Oh, uh, Dr. Baek?

What the hell?

-No closer? -What are you doing?

Go back to your seat.

I think we can make it.

Do something about this, Mr. An.

-Can't we just carry him down ourselves? -Way too risky.

Oh!

Listen. How about you and I switch now?

Right.

We're here. Put the bag on and get ready.

We're here? We're here?

Oh! Oh! Oh no!

Shut the door. Shut it! Stop it! Stop it! Please!

Get a move on!

No way! There's no way I can do this. I'll just stay here.

Really! I just can't. I can't. I can't.

-No way. I can't. This is crazy! -What if your family was down there?

You're not thinking of jumping down, are you?

-See ya down there. -Save me!

-Help me! -Dr. Baek!