Original subtitles

BASED ON THE WEBTOON SERIES

THE TRAUMA CODE: HEROES ON CALL

Now to a heartbreaking story.

A patient died while being transported to the hospital yesterday,

following a hit-and-run incident.

The ambulance carrying Patient A

had to visit no fewer than five hospitals.

When Patient A reached the final hospital,

medics had no choice but to announce them dead on arrival.

This year alone, 13 similar cases have already occurred.

There are growing concerns

that Korea's trauma response system may not be functioning properly.

A trauma center

is a specialized facility for treating

emergency patients with critical injuries beyond the capabilities of a general ER.

In order to provide adequate personnel, facilities, and resources,

the Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to invest heavily

in promoting the use of trauma centers over the next five years.

No more senseless deaths

in this country!

That is my promise!

MINISTER OF HEALTH AND WELFARE KANG MYEONG-HUI

That's how my inaugural speech went.

But just look at the state of things.

Who do we have here?

Directors of the top tertiary hospitals in the country!

So why can't you do any better? Why?

Director Choi Jo-eun?

Yes, Madam Minister.

How much funding was allocated to Hankuk Hospital's Trauma Team?

About that…

They got ten billion won!

Did we get good bang for our buck?

Nobody wants to see the Trauma Team running smoothly more than I do.

But?

But, as you know,

there is only one person in Korea who can be considered a trauma specialist.

Indeed.

- He collapsed from overwork. - Yes.

Dr. Kwon has done a great job leading the Trauma Team so far.

But our hands are tied.

Everyone saw him collapse with their own eyes.

Is there a single doctor out there who'd be willing to fill his shoes?

Yes.

Who?

HANKUK NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

I reached out

to someone incredible and asked them to come all the way here to see us.

He'll be arriving soon.

Dr. An Jeong-won of pediatrics, please come to OR 12.

I repeat…

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

a pioneer in trauma care, has collapsed from overwork.

Dr. Kwon, known as the "sole champion" of the tough field of trauma care…

So much for being the sole champion.

He has dedicated himself to advancing emergency medicine in Korea.

His excessive workload has been attributed to the unstable working environment…

Yang Jae-won of general surgery.

We have an unconscious trauma patient coming in on an ambulance.

He has a stab wound on his left upper abdomen.

Patient number 37. This way, please.

Patient number 37.

No BP reading at all? What about the C-line?

I'll be there as soon as possible.

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

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

REGIONAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL CENTER

New patient. Stab wound to the left side of the abdomen.

- To the resuscitation room. - Okay!

- BP is dropping! It's 60! - Let's intubate right away!

- Avoid the knife. - Okay!

One, two, three!

He is unconscious with a dangerously low heart rate.

With the knife lodged in, at least the bleeding is contained.

- Check his BP. - Right.

Be careful. If the knife comes out, it'll be a disaster.

- Yes, sir. - Intubation complete.

- BP is still dropping. 50! - What? 50?

Let's hurry.

- Prepare for a CT scan. Quick! - Yes, sir.

Wait!

What is this?

It's a bruise.

- Stethoscope, please. - Here.

Blood accumulating in the pericardium is putting pressure on the heart.

Cardiac tamponade.

Call cardiothoracic.

They'll do a puncture. Get a spinal needle and ultrasound ready.

Yes, Doctor.

Ultrasound. Quick!

Doctor, everyone is in surgery for another two hours.

- Do they know it's a cardiac tamponade? - Theirs is a heart rupture.

You're kidding me.

What do I do?

Must I do the puncture myself?

It could be something other than the heart.

Shouldn't I get a CT scan to check first?

Okay, CT scan?

BP is getting too low! It's 40!

Shouldn't you do the puncture first?

Dr. Yang!

All right, I'll do it. Give it to me.

- Right, I'm doing this. - Yes, sir.

- I got this. - Right.

Okay.

Here I go.

Who the hell are you?

Xiphoid process. 45 degrees to the left.

You can't just…

What? BP is stabilizing.

Who are you?

Kid, you call yourself an ER doctor when you can't even do a puncture right?

Me?

My specialty is the anus.

So why are you hanging around the ER?

Because I'm on call.

We all take turns. General surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, then neurosurgery.

Ridiculous.

What, are you a doctor or something?

Whatever the case, I appreciate your help, but I'd like you to leave now.

You're on my turf.

I'm not done yet.

Hey, I asked you who you are.

I'm an attending trauma surgeon here, starting today.

No way.

Are you Dr. Kwon's replacement?

This isn't your turf.

It's mine.

The name's Baek Kang-hyuk.

Hey, Anus.

What's the next step?

My name is not Anus. It's Yang Jae-won.

I decide who deserves their name.

So, what do you do next?

Next?

We got the cardiac tamponade under control.

We need to check the stab wound, so a CT scan?

CT scan?

When this patient was rescued, a broken knife blade was found nearby.

Hey, Anus.

When assessing trauma patients,

the circumstances of the accident are as important as their current condition.

- Don't you know that? - Pardon? Yes, I do know that.

Then did you check how the patient was stabbed and in what environment?

No.

A gangster? And the weapon?

A sashimi knife. A nasty stab to the upper abdomen.

So I made light of the stab wound and just pulled the knife out.

And what happened?

Even with the knife gone, the bleeding wasn't severe.

Yes, the broken knife could only have caused a shallow wound to start with.

What does that tell us?

His fucked-up BP and lack of consciousness

were a direct result of the cardiac tamponade.

What's the next step?

The next step?

- Lots of gauze. - Here.

Gauze? What for?

The patient is still unconscious, so there must also be an issue over here.

Get ready for a burst.

Burst?

What on earth…

Call anesthesiology and prep for surgery.

Yes, sir!

The hand of God?

Supposedly, he can save someone on the brink of death

with the flick of a scalpel.

How have I never heard of such a whiz? Did he not go to Hankuk University?

Is he from overseas?

He went to Muhan University.

What? Muhan?

Muhan University?

- Still, he's had his share of time abroad. - Where?

International Medical Association For Peace.

Is that all? That's just a volunteer organization.

Countless doctors have been there.

They say he's the crème de la crème.

I think it was Syria.

He spent six years there handling every trauma case under the sun.

So he did nothing but grunt work.

I still don't get how a Muhan graduate ended up here.

What do you think? It's cronyism at its finest.

Someone high-up just gave him the job.

Who could that be?

Who brought in that Baek Kang-hyuk guy?

Kang Myeong-hui.

Kang Myeong-hui?

Wait a second.

Kang Myeong-hui?

The same Kang Myeong-hui that I know?

Is that why the minister will show up

at the appointment ceremony of just another attending?

Don't ask. Kang Myeong-hui, or whatever her name is.

I just can't be bothered.

What does she expect to accomplish with just one crony?

It spells disaster. It really does.

EMERGENCY ROOM, HNUH

- What is it? - Dr. Hwang Seon-u, this is the ER.

You're on call for the Trauma Team--

Just find another anesthesiologist. Take it elsewhere.

The patient's condition is too critical--

You want me to come in right now?

No, sir. It's just that--

I'm off this afternoon.

What is this, hotline dating?

Look, you should call me first and give me a heads-up

so I can prep for surgery in advance.

Honestly, you're a fourth-year resident, and you haven't got a fucking clue.

When will you figure it out? Huh? When is that going to happen?

Goddamn it, man.

- So full of crap. - What?

What was that? Who are you?

I'm an attending, you asshole.

- An attending? - You little…

Who the hell are you to demand a heads-up for a surgery that nobody can predict?

What I meant was, I was on call yesterday, too, so--

Cut the crap. Get over here now.

If you're not in the OR when I get there, you're dead meat. Got it?

Answer me!

Yes, sir. I understand.

What the…

Dr. Baek!

There are no ORs available. They're all booked for surgeries--

But there is the emergency OR.

Right this way.

TRAUMA/INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

The room was renovated with funding, but…

A quick fix just to save face.

Is it at least functional?

Well, it's never really been used.

Who is the head of Trauma Team?

There isn't one.

Y'all are doing just fine.

It's not that bad.

The emergency department has been supportive.

This place could pass for a damn corner store.

I'm here!

- Anesthesiology? - Yes, sir.

You must be the one I talked to on the…

Hey, Buzz Cut.

Let's save the patient first.

Yes, sir.

Scalpel.

You're pretty nimble-fingered, Anus.

This is nothing. By the way, I'm not Anus. I'm Yang--

Here it is.

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

Tie it off already.

Right, I'll do it right away. But…

where do I tie it off?

You can't see this?

Right angle.

I guess it's not visible to an average person.

Tie it off, will you?

Okay. Black Silk 3-0, please.

Wait.

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

You little piece of shit.

- Did I do something wrong? - Hey!

Yes?

- Did you use inotropics? - Yes.

Well, the BP was only 60 over 40.

You used inotropics for that?

On a patient who just had a puncture?

Well, I just…

The BP was only…

You tried to take a shortcut, and now you're screwed.

Resident, get on the phone and call in a different anesthesiologist.

Sir, I think you're being unreasonable.

Unreason--

A doctor does not screw a patient over for his own convenience.

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

The rest of you, stitch him up and prepare for a thoracotomy.

- Yes, sir. - Yes, Doctor.

- He threw out one of our own? - He's plain crazy.

We are at the very top of the surgical pecking order.

How dare a lowly trauma surgeon humiliate the Anesthesia Team?

All right, so who's going to go?

That punk, obviously.

Ppark!

This is anesthesiology resident Park Gyeong-won.

Ppark, it's an emergency.

Hurry over to the emergency OR.

I'm studying. Does it have to be me?

Hey, Ppark.

What are you, a fellow? I said it's emergency surgery!

How dare you…

SURGERY IN PROGRESS

Hey.

Yes?

Not you, the anesthesiologist.

Yes?

Did you lower the heart rate on purpose? I see less movement.

I figured it could be a rupture.

RUPTURE: TEAR OR BREAK DUE TO EXTERNAL DAMAGE

What is your name?

Park Gyeong-won, sir.

It is a rupture.

Let's pick up the pace.

3-0, please.

Your call cannot be connected. Please leave…

Where on earth is he? He's not even answering his phone.

The minister has arrived.

Hello.

Hello.

Thank you for making the time, ma'am.

- It's an honor. - Not at all.

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

Actually, Dr. Baek isn't here yet.

Let's wait a while, then.

- May I… - This way, please.

Hello. Do take a seat.

CURRENT TIME - DURATION OF SURGERY

What time is it?

What's taking him so long? The man is anything but punctual.

Okay, cut.

Let's close the chest now.

Done.

One hour, 42 minutes.

I can't believe he finished it so fast.

Oh my!

Fast, my ass.

It shouldn't take more than 90 minutes. We went ten minutes over.

Thanks to someone's pathetic assistance.

It wasn't pathetic.

You made me late for my appointment ceremony.

Has it started?

What?

Since I'm late anyway, I may as well see the patient wake up.

You're not going?

But it's your appointment ceremony.

I need to see the patient wake up.

Please, Dr. Baek. You should hurry.

He's an odd one.

- Let's wait a little longer. - Yes, ma'am.

I see why Kang handpicked Baek Kang-hyuk.

To brace for the parliamentary audit.

And the director okayed it

so he could bring in some worthless Muhan graduate

and make the Trauma Team remain nothing more than a hollow shell.

What I can't figure out, though,

is why he came to this hospital knowing full well he'd be an outcast.

What time is it?

- We're all busy here. - There he is.

He's finally here.

- What a brat! - So inconsiderate.

- He's an hour late! - We're all busy.

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

It would be best to start with an apology.

Wait! You should greet the minister first.

It's all right.

She says it's all right.

Hello, all. I am Baek Kang-hyuk, the new attending trauma surgeon.

The director would like me to start by apologizing.

But I refuse to do that.

I think I should be getting an apology instead.

They offered me the attending position and agreed to reorganize the Trauma Team.

But it turns out

that they were kind of just looking for a figurehead.

In any case, I'll tell you why I came to this place.

My goal is to take the Trauma Team…

and shut it down for good.

Dr. Baek, what's wrong with you?

Let's have a quick chat.

- Let me talk-- - Excuse me!

Yes?

Was it Dr. Baek Kang-hyuk?

Yes.

It's unbefitting of a trauma surgeon to say things like that.

On your first day, no less.

"Despite the tough reality, I will do my best."

Wouldn't that be more appropriate?

I'm Han Yu-rim, Head of General Surgery and an attending colorectal surgeon.

Right, Dr. Han Yu-rine.

No, not "Yu-rine." Han Yu-rim. My name is Han Yu-rim.

Right. Thank you.

I actually tested the waters of this tertiary hospital earlier.

It's almost laughable.

I've been told that you've never had a dedicated trauma department.

Other departments just take turns being on call at the Trauma Team,

as if passing around a ticking time bomb.

- Please choose your words-- - Do you know who I found?

An on-call colorectal surgeon dealing with a trauma patient by himself.

What did you say?

I've never seen such sincere, earnest efforts

to kill a person in my life.

I can't put up with this any longer.

The system is messed up.

No wonder the on-call doctor messed up so badly like a quack.

How insulting. I've had enough.

Dr. Baek!

Watch your mouth!

- That's too harsh! - How dare you call one of us a quack?

Who do you think you are?

I couldn't just sit around and watch the quack kill a man.

So I performed a quick surgery. That's what held me up.

That's why I won't apologize.

And that's why

I'm going to shut it down.

What do you mean?

Are we a joke to you? Do you think this hospital is a joke?

Please don't get the wrong idea.

Dr. Baek!

I'll get rid of that useless Trauma Team, take it up a notch,

and then reopen it as the Trauma Center.

Center?

- What utter nonsense! - You're out of control.

Ma'am, you got my back, right?

Sure. I'll be watching you.

I'll help you get the most out of that ten billion won.

I will show you all that I'm the real deal.

That's all I have to say.

Over and out.

- Who do you think you are? - Dr. Baek.

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

Hey!

You owe us an apology!

What's all this about? Wait, Dr. Baek.

Dr. Baek!

You don't even deserve to be here!

If I may add to that sentiment.

Dr. Baek may be blunt with his words,

but I don't think he's incorrect.

I personally vouch for his skills.

Give him a chance, for my sake.

Thank you.

Madam Minister?

Applause.

What? A pet name?

What is he talking about?

Let's just go.

Come on.

Dr. Baek called you "Anus" earlier.

That's not a pet name. He was making fun of me.

Still, I think he took a liking to you, teaching you like you're his student.

His student? Hey, don't scare me.

I'd never forfeit the glory of colorectal surgery

to opt for trauma surgery, a specialty with no future.

Take this hospital, for example. The Trauma Team exists in name only.

Right.

Dr. Kwon struggled all alone. I could never do that. I won't.

"Colorectal" may not sound pretty, but the outlook is strong.

Emergencies are rare. It's ideal for a clinic.

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

You're cut out for colorectal.

That nickname is perfect.

Thanks for the coffee.

He's right, so why am I ticked off?

EMERGENCY ROOM, HNUH

Yang Jae-won of general surgery.

Where is it?

APPOINTMENT CEREMONY ATTENDING TRAUMA SURGEON BAEK KANG-HYUK

HANKUK NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Where did he go?

Yes?

I'm here to see a patient.

And you are?

Baek Kang-hyuk, attending trauma surgeon.

There's no doctor here by that name.

Don't go around pretending to be a doctor.

Hey, listen.

I really am a doctor here.

I did a thoracotomy in there this morning, for God's sake.

There's no need to be rude.

I'm here to see a patient, but you won't let me!

And keep your voice down. There are patients in here.

- Patients… - What is the name of your patient?

I didn't get a look at his name.

I know the doctor who brought the patient in.

His name is…

He's called…

Anus?

What's wrong with this asshole?

Hey, come on!

Hey!

Damn, what a cheeky brat.

Hey, Anus!

Perfect timing.

Baek…

So I'm "Baek" to you now?

No!

Dr. Baek, I've been looking for you.

Me?

Why?

Bukhansan.

A hiker fell off the Bukhansan trail.

The patient needs urgent care.

But

their injuries are so severe, they might not make it here.

- Is the helicopter on its way? - Well…

The National Rescue Unit says they're on their way.

Tell them to stop by here first.

We'll go treat the patient at the scene.

Okay.

"We"?

Is there a problem?

What do you mean "we"?

Me and you.

For now…

Call me when the helicopter is here, okay? I'll be checking on my patient.

Don't forget the trauma kit!

Wait a second! I…

You're going in a helicopter?

With me?

The emergency ICU.

"Internal medicine"?

So the emergency ICU is a stopgap for the main ICU.

Who are you? How did you get in here?

Your voice rings a bell.

- That hardhead from earlier? - What are you on about?

Cut the crap and leave. This place is for medics only.

Look, I'm one of them.

Whatever.

- Give me your name. - What will you do with it?

"Cheon Jang-mi."

Happy now?

- Now get out. - Ouch!

Get out.

- Not that way. This way. - Wait.

Listen, I'm…

Just give me a moment!

A tattoo?

He has one too?

I'm telling you, he's the one I took care of!

"Took care of"?

MEDICAL OXYGEN

No!

No way.

Let go of me!

Why are you so strong?

- So strong! - Let me go, man!

Hey! Damn it, woman!

Oh my!

Stay still for a second.

Stop moving!

- I saw nothing! - Doctor, call the police!

Hey!

- No! It's not what it looks like. - Call the police!

- Call the cops! - The cops?

- This darn woman! - Please calm down!

Don't come any closer!

Doctor, this guy's a gangster!

No, he's not.

He's an attending.

He is our new attending.

He is Dr. Baek Kang-hyuk.

Oh my.

- Apologies, Doctor. - Gangster?

You're more like a gangster than I am.

But you said you "took care of" the patient…

I'm sorry.

Right. Nurse Cheon Jang-mi.

From now on,

you're Gangster.

Gangster.

Sorry?

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

Thank you, Doctor.

You even saved someone like me.

Who you are and what you do are not important.

I just did what I had to do as a doctor.

To be honest,

the most important thing is that you met me.

Others couldn't have done it. Do you understand what I'm saying?

Had you met a quack,

you'd be on your way to meet your maker.

I heard it's really hot down there.

And this doctor

played a vital role in saving you.

The stitches on your stomach that he did will hardly be noticeable.

He has the hand of God, you see.

Me?

Thank you so much.

AN JUNG-HEON

Yang Jae-won of general surgery.

Now? Okay, understood.

The helicopter is here.

Take care, then.

Nurse Cheon.

Hey, Gangster.

Check his vitals every 30 minutes.

Yes, sir.

- Run, Anus! - Yes, sir!

"Anus"?

You're a gangster?

It's just a nickname.

Wait, Dr. Baek!

- What? - Wrong way! The heliport is that way!

It's not on the roof?

No, it's over that way.

Damn, why didn't you say so?

This is the heliport?

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

- Wear it on your front! - Pardon?

- It could get caught in the blades. - On my front?

- We need to get on now. - No, I really can't!

I mean it!

Let's go!

Help! This is really happening!

Save me!

NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY 119 RESCUE UNIT

Help me!

The official document was issued a year ago.

But this is my first ride alongside doctors.

This will be as frequent as coffee breaks from now on.

Your name is?

An Jung-heon, a team leader in the National Rescue Unit.

Are you familiar with helicopters?

You're not nervous at all.

This is pretty standard.

That would be the standard reaction.

Anus, will you be able to save patients like that?

I have a fear of heights.

You have such a long way to go.

Visibility is dire in this weather. There are gusty winds too.

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

How are things on the ground?

The patient's condition is critical.

He is unconscious with a very weak pulse.

We suspect an impact on his right chest from the fall, with possible rib damage.

- How much time do we have? - He needs to be treated immediately.

You're bringing doctors, right?

He won't withstand transport in his current state.

We'll lose the patient if he's not treated right away!

You should hurry, Captain.

It's too risky. The gusts are making it impossible.

What?

Our own lives are in danger. We must turn back.

I guess we have no choice, then.

Hold on tight.

Dr. Baek?

Goodness!

No can do?

What are you doing?

Sit back down quickly!

It looks hopeful to me.

Do something, Mr. An!

Can't we just carry him down?

You know that's impossible.

Captain?

Let's trade places.

Right.

We're here. Grab the kit and get ready!

We're here?

Shut the door! Shut it now!

No, I can't!

Hurry up!

No, I really can't. I'm already in the helicopter.

I really can't do it. No way!

Anus, what if your family were down there?

No!

Dr. Baek, you're not jumping, are you?

See you later.

Save me!

- Help! - Dr. Baek!

Subtitle translation by: Helen Cho