Life Plan

Chapter 22, Vulnerable Subjects

Sun Qiang curled his lip: "New drugs, they must be so expensive."

Dr. Li patiently explained that all related examinations and treatments during the clinical trial were free of charge.

During this time, Jiang Xiaonv's eyes were fixed on Dr. Li. She listened very attentively, but only two words could sway her husband—"free".

He finally took Jiang Xiaonv's hand as if bestowing a favor: "Then do it, it's free anyway."

Because Jiang Xiaonv couldn't speak, Dr. Li patiently explained the contents of the "Informed Consent Form" to her.

Upon hearing the words "adverse reaction," Sun Qiang suddenly frowned: "She's not dead yet. If your treatment kills her, won't you have to compensate me?"

"Conducting clinical trials carries risks."

In fact, all adverse reactions, including death, are listed on the informed consent form and signed by the patient. All treatment procedures must fully comply with laws and regulations, and all data is archived. Clinical trials involve human health and are therefore very serious.

Sun Qiang narrowed his eyes, revealing an expression that he thought he had "seen through everything": "Don't think I don't know, I saw that news. A college student died while doing an experiment here."

Dr. Li and Shen Shuyi spoke up in unison, wanting to continue explaining, but he suddenly waved his hand: "Forget it, forget it, let's not do it. You just said it was only Phase III, but now you're saying the experiment might kill you. If you die, I won't get compensation. That would be a huge loss. Let's not do it, let's not do it."

He grabbed Jiang Xiaonv and tried to pull her out. It was clear that Jiang Xiaonv usually listened to him, so when she pushed him away, Sun Qiang reacted very strongly.

His face was filled with disbelief, his eyes bulging like a bull's. Liu Chichi had no doubt that he might attack Jiang Xiaonv. She quickly stood up and pulled Jiang Xiaonv behind her, saying, "There are security guards here!"

Sun Qiang gritted his teeth, pointing a finger sharply at Jiang Xiaonv through the air: "Try dodging again!"

Jiang Xiaonv flinched, and Liu Chichi felt her grip on her sleeve tighten, but soon she released her grip and followed her husband out the door.

Dr. Li put the informed consent form away again. Enrolling in the Phase III trial for targeted therapy was no easy feat, and he remained calm about the result.

The door opened, and the setting sun shone in instantly, making Jiang Xiaonv's slender, overweight figure appear exceptionally delicate in the blinding backlight.

Liu Chichi glanced at the time; it was only 5:30. It was getting dark earlier and earlier.

The next second, the sunset suddenly disappeared. The door to the clinic was slammed shut; Jiang Xiaonv was inside, and her husband was outside.

She strode back, grabbed a pen from the table, and carefully wrote on the back of her registration form: Me. Alive.

She was writing slowly when Sun Qiang suddenly pushed the door open. He subconsciously rolled up his sleeves, glanced at Liu Chichi and the other two standing there, paused, cursed, and turned to leave.

Jiang Xiaonv had just pushed the note out when she quickly pulled it back and added three words: "Please."

Her handwriting was very neat, somewhat like the writing of a first-grade student in an exercise book, with each stroke very stiff, as if she had just learned how to write the character.

When writing the character "求", she first drew a cross, then added two dots in the upper right corner and directly below, and finally drew a cross along the middle vertical line.

It looks like a depiction of some kind of prayer ritual.

She stood with her hands clasped together, bent over, and looked up in supplication, her cloudy eyes filled with tears as she gazed at Dr. Li. Subjects whose families objected were not the optimal choice for the trial, meaning there was a high possibility they would withdraw midway.

Moreover, Chen Bin's incident happened not long ago, and Sun Qiang's attitude is tantamount to planting a time bomb.

Because of the doctor's silence, Jiang Xiaonv suddenly lunged forward. If Shen Shuyi hadn't reacted quickly and grabbed her, she might have knelt down in front of the doctor.

Dr. Li gripped his pen, his brow furrowing deeply after a day of calm. He hesitated for a moment, then finally produced an informed consent form.

Jiang Xiaonv cannot speak or read, but fortunately she can understand. Dr. Li told her, "If there's anything you don't understand, you can write it down and tell me, or circle it."

He spent nearly two hours trying to accurately convey the contents of the informed consent form and to describe the technical terms in plain language as much as possible. Since the outpatient department needed to clear out the building, they moved to the office.

When Liu Chichi was going to the next building, she took out her phone to let her mother know that she would be working overtime today. To prevent unexpected calls from disturbing her, she put the phone on silent.

The moment they stepped out of the elevator, Zhou Ya's message popped up unexpectedly: [Chichi, I have a meeting today that might be late. Could you help pick up Xiao Qiao?]

Liu Chichi glanced at Dr. Li walking ahead and sent an "apology" emoji: [Sorry, Sister Ya, I'm working overtime today too.]

The three people in front of her had already entered. Shen Shuyi raised her hand and beckoned to her, "Come over here quickly."

"Here it is." She casually put her phone into her bag.

Jiang Xiaonv clutched the registration slip, but didn't write down any questions. She just kept nodding, even eagerly trying to sign the last page. Dr. Li stopped her: "We need to report your information to the ethics committee, and considering you can't read the informed consent form, we also need a witness."

Jiang Xiaonv was the first vulnerable subject that Liu Chichi came into contact with. She was incurable but her condition was serious. She was mute and semi-illiterate.

Liu Chichi stayed by her side attentively, and the moment Dr. Li finished speaking, Shen Shuyi immediately sent the message to the CRA.

Liu Chichi has already received her certificate and signed all the project-related agreements. Jiang Xiaonv may become the first subject she fully handles—if her physical condition passes the ethics committee and initial screening.

When Jiang Xiaonv left, it was completely dark. There were no stars or moon outside the window, only the brightly lit inpatient department.

She took out her phone; Liu Chunhong's message asking what time she'd be home was prominently displayed above, followed by a message from Zhou Ya: "[It's okay, you can go later.]"

The time was an hour ago. Besides that, there were three other missed calls from the same number without any notation. Liu Chichi had no recollection of this number, hesitated for a moment, and then dialed back.

The other party answered quickly: "Is this Ms. Liu Chichi?"

"It's me, what's wrong?"

"I'm Ms. Chen from the Huating Property Management Library. Are you available to pick up Xiao Qiao today?"

Liu Chichi could hear the resentment in the other person's tone. She subconsciously glanced at the time; it was 8:30, more than two hours before the library get out of class ended.

She instinctively asked, "Hasn't Xiao Qiao gone home yet?"

"She's already cried three times. If it's convenient for you, please come quickly."

Ms. Chen sounded very tired. Xiao Qiao's contact list only contained her mother's and Liu Chichi's contact information. She had considered contacting Xiao Qiao's father and found the owner's number through the property management, but when she called the property management office, no one answered.

Unless the police are called to report that the child's parents are missing, but the property management disagrees, calling the police would cause trouble for the residents. So Ms. Chen can only stay here with Xiao Qiao. She understands the child's despair at not being able to contact her parents, but when Xiao Qiao cried for the third time, she was exhausted.