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The subtle noise in the hospital takes over your thoughts. Your anxiousness rises during your wait for the elevator. You do your best to not let it get to you. Your fingertips clasp onto your ID badge where your title and last name is placed. ''Enter your last name'': <<textbox "$Name" "">> The elevator doors open. Just a few footsteps ahead is the place where you [[begin]].

//The elevator doors [[open]]//

//The elevator doors open you [[greet]] the fluorescent lights,//

//The elevator doors open You greet the fluorescent lights, opaque marble floors, [[blank]] walls,//

//The elevator doors open you greet the fluorescent lights, opaque marble floors, blank walls, screeches of paced feet, [[SOS]] calls.//

//The elevator doors open you greet the fluorescent lights, opaque marble floors, blank walls, screeches of paced feet, SOS calls. This is where [[you]] begin//

//The elevator doors open you greet the fluorescent lights, opaque marble floors, blank walls, screeches of paced feet, SOS calls. This is where you begin a [[place]] to see reality//

//An [[emergency]] call awaits,//

//An emergency call awaits, someone is in dire [[need for help]]//

//An emergency call awaits, Someone is in dire need for help you have to [[hurry]].//

//An emergency call awaits, someone is in dire need for help you have to hurry. They start the [[call]]//

//An emergency call awaits, someone is in dire need for help you have to hurry. They start a call. [[You]] need to...//

''Doctor $Name, request to emergency immediately.'' Choose: [[Go]]. or [[Hesitate]]. <<set $Hesitate to 0>>

As you enter into the emergency section, an ambulance arrives. Three of the paramedics and one nurse surround the stretcher, rolling it to the designated room. You quickly ask questions to one of the paramedics. //“[[Status]]?”//

A paramedic answers, “Christian Smith. 73 years old. He was [[unresponsive]] at his household. The oxygen mask was attached immediately. We received the call approximately 10 minutes ago.”

You enter inside one of the emergency/trauma rooms. Your undivided attention is going towards the patient. You recall all of the lessons from medical school. You begin by commanding the paramedics to transfer the patient onto another stretcher. The nurses begin to attach the IV tube, heart monitor and oximeter to his arm. Following the normal procedures, you speak to Christian. //“Time to listen to your [[heart]].”//

Slow. His heart is beating slowly. You take out your stethescope from your ears. The oxygen levels are stable. His pulse is staying constant. Everything is under control for now. You glance over to one of the paramedics. //"Who was it that called for the ambulence?"// "The youngest daughter. She accompanied the patient during the ride." You demand while checking Christian's dilated pupils. //"I will need someone to [[ask]] the daughter about his medical history." //

At that moment, a lady enters inside. Every movement is being judged by her. Her stern demeanour glares at your figure. She holds a clipboard with a few papers attached to it. It is only now that you acknowledge her prescence. //"Supervisor Amela..."// "The questioning is already done." She responds while you continue your work. She flips some of the pages to get the information you need. "I have already asked the youngest daughter." Choose: Ask about [[medical history]]. or Ask about [[the supervisor]].

"Melanoma." ''Cancer.'' She recites the information from the clipboard. "It already metastasized throughout the liver, lungs and the brain. Already went through radiation, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. All treatments were [[ineffective]]."

She chuckles softly at your question. “You’re [[my student]]. I cannot go home when you are suddenly put into your first case. I need to watch over you.” //“Because this is my first emergency case? I should be fine.”//

You accept your supervisor's help. You remember that she have told you about her leave for the night. //"I thought you would be home already, Supervisor Amela."// She chuckles, “You’re still my student. I need to watch over you especially with this case.” //“Because this is my [[first emergency case|sirens]]?”// She does not utter another word.

You hear the erratic sounds coming from the oximeter, see the nurses' confusion, and feel the temperature of the patient's body turning cold. You know that something like this may occur; a turnabout to Christian's current state. You twist your attention to Christian. You can hear him struggling to breathe through his mouth. Staggering huffs and puffs are exerting. The oxygen mask can no longer provide the oxygen he needs. A nurse shouts and puts yourself in dire focus. "Doctor $Name, the patient's [[oxygen levels]] are going down!"

You ask for the medical history. "Melanoma." //Cancer.// "It already metastasized throughout [[the liver, lungs and the brain|sirens]]. Already went through radiation, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Both treatments were ineffective."

Oxygen levels are slowly decreasing. ''//90...//'' ''//88...//'' You check the heart monitor, a pulse is still there. Think fast. If the oxygen levels go below 60, then Christian will go through hypoxia. Choose: [[Intubate]]. or [[Pause to think]].

You direct the nurses, //" We need to intubate immediately!"// ~.~ Luckily, you are able to stop the oxygen levels from going down further. Your quick thinking has help stop a major problem. Everyone is doing their best, including you. But your supervisor has this unusual face. //Bewilderment.// //Sympathetic.// She is [[hiding]] something from you.

Christian's stretcher rolls towards the ICU. Everyone leaves except for you and Supervisor Amela. The deafening silence in the room is unsettling. She is the first to break it. "We need to talk about this [[patient]]."

You respond, //"What is it?"// "The patient has already been through a lot. I already told you about his cancer. If his body has already rejected those treatments, then there is [[nothing]] we can do."

She walks around the empty room. She examines the unused tools and medicines in the nearby cabinets. Supervisor Amela continues on with her talk. You suspend on the spot. "If what the younger daughter says is true, then his condition is already taking a toll on his [[lifespan]]."

"We're just prolonging his life." Supervisor Amela is unfaze from her statements. You are a doctor. You are not a mindreader. Though you have a feeling what she is going to say. You can predict the words through the movements of her lips. Supervisor Amela says, "You will have to talk to the youngest daughter. She must talk to the family members to make a [[decision]] for Mr. Smith."

''"It's either her or her family. They have to decide if he should stay [[alive or not]]."''

You're in charge. You are assigned to confront Christian's relative. Supervisor Amela sighs once she looks at your tensed-up body. She hands you Christian's information with a sympathetic smile. She leaves you beind in the emergency/trauma room. //[[One second]]//.

You're in charge. You are assigned to confront Christian's relative. Supervisor Amela sighs once she looks at your tensed-up body. She hands you the clipboard with a sympathetic smile. She leaves you beind in the emergency/trauma room. //One second//. //[[Two seconds]]//.

After looking at the medical history, the inevitable must come. You walk out of the room and into the ICU waiting area. The nurses direct you to the youngest daughter of Christian Smith. Her eyes are swollen with dark circles and dried up tears. The youngest daughter's mouth is trying to say words. None of it is registering in your ear. You are given a task. You need to go through it. //[[Tell her]].//

"Doctor $Name..." Your name is murmured through her mouth. Your pulse begins to race for some reason. But you expect the next sentence. Probably the reason why you are panicking now. "What are the [[options]]?"

A dreaded question. You put all of the information together; everything about Christian's condition. You come up with two possible [[choices]].

There's an option of keeping Christian alive. Since there is a pulse and his oxygen levels are stable, Christian should be able to stay alive. Though the possiblity of his cancer to spread throughout other parts increases as new day passes. You can easily predict that in one month, Christian may have to stay in palliative care. He is a ticking time bomb, ready to go off any moment. But his family will still be able to see him. Any [[precious second]] is enough for them.

She is waiting for you to pick. [[Time is ticking]] along with Christian's life. "Doctor $Name?"

Your nerves are getting to you. The numbing sensation crawls to your legs. You cannot move them. A nurse recongnizes you during her travel to the same destination. Her voice calls out to you. "Doctor $Name, we should be heading to emergency now." She is waiting for you to go. Without letting the nurse see your hesitatant state, you [[head off|Go]].

There's the other option: letting him go. By doing that, Christian will no longer have to face the cancer. He will no longer have to suffer. Another problem arises. From looking at the medical records from Supervisor Amela, there's no records of Christian requesting for the "Do Not Resuscitate" order. There's no direct permission from him to end his life. The family members must make the decision. Is it fair for the family to [[face this]]?

You think about it. You think about all of the options and explain everything to the youngest daughter. Hopefully your explainations are reasonable and easy to understand. The youngest daughter stays slient once again. Her lower lip quivers as the weight of the options takes a toll. Soon her eyes have a hopeful look that is begging for [[help]].

"What would [[you say]] is the best option?"

"''What would you pick?''" [[Let him live]]. [[or]] [[Let him pass]].

You think it is easy to give the best answer. But it isn't. Each option is unfair for both Christian and his family. He deserves to live, but he doesn't deserve the pain. His family deserves the relief, but they also deserve more time with him. What's the [[answer]]?

//"I do believe it is best to let your father be relieved of his pain."// The youngest daughter blinks once, trying to take in what you suggest. She deeply inhales the hospital air in order to get her into reality. "May I ask why you [[suggest]] this?"

//"I do believe that he still has the strength to live. Since we are able to save him, we can keep an eye on him in the hospital for any changes. At least he is able to continue [[living on]]."//

A sob cuts into your thoughts. You take a look at the youngest daughter. Her hands clentches into fists and hides her teary eyes. Her voice cracks as if her sanity can no longer hold her pain. You didn't say anything to her yet. You are ready to ask what is [[wrong]]. She beats you to it.

''//[[Hesitation]].//'' <<set $Hesitate to $Hesitate +60>>

"[[Let him go]]..."

"My father deserves the rest." She speaks but her words do not connect to her emotions. "He's been suffering. Just from hearing the options, the last one is the best one." Her fingers suddenly grab onto your coat. Her grip is not strong, but it is enough for you to recognize her [[agony]]. She has made her decision. If you speak out your mind faster, perhaps the youngest daughter may take some time to think.

Supervisor Amela sternly demands, "Why are you doing blanking out? There's a patient that needs to be saved." You apologize for stopping in the middle of a crisis. You need to let the nerves get out of your body. If you stop to blank out once more, a grave consequence can occur. You see the oxygen levels go down further. ''//85...//'' ''//80...//'' Choose: [[Intubate]]. or [[Hesitate|another]]. <<set $Hesitate to $Hesitate +5>>

//[[An emergency call awaits]],//

//An emergency call awaits, [[someone is in dire need for help]]//

//An emergency call awaits, someone is in dire need for help [[you have to hurry]].//

//An emergency call awaits, someone is in dire need for help you have to hurry. [[They start a call]].//

//An emergency call awaits, someone is in dire need for help you have to hurry. They start a call. [[You need to respond|Ending]].// Your hesitation cost you <<print $Hesitate>> seconds.

//"Maybe take some time to think about this..."// She responds with aggressive tone. "How much time do we even have? Please Doctor $Name, I think it's best for my father to-" You want to say more, but your eyes gaze upon [[Supervisor Amela]]. She shakes her head, indicating a stop to your interventions. You know what she means. You cannot say anything else to the youngest daughter.

You add in additional information. //"I think you understand the severity of your father's illness. We cannot guarantee that he will not be able to get better. So we will need to discuss immediately about his condition."// "And what will we need to discuss?" //"Discussions about [[palliative]] care."//

You feel defeated. Supervisor Amela walks over and talks to the youngest daughter. You are left by the sidelines, letting Supervisor Amela handle the situation. You get the silent message. You know what her presence means. You no longer have control on the situation. Everything that will happen to Christian lies on Supervisor Amela's help. Not yours. You [[cannot do anything]] now at this point.

You have no choice but to [[comply]] to any future plans.

A smile appears on your face. It becomes reassurance to the youngest daughter. //"We can speak about once you get some rest."// "But my father..." //"He will be here. As long as his condition stays stable, we will keep an eye on him. We can speak about the palliative care when the rest of your family members come."// You watch her give her thanks to you. She is directed by a nurse to her designated resting area. At least a few hours of [[relief]] is enough for her to think thoroughly about her father.

Supervisor Amela goes by your side. Her arms cross and sees your calm demeanor. “You seem calm about your suggestion to her.” //“She needs to trust us if she wants to keep her father alive.”// “You do remember that we are merely prolonging his pain.” //“I know,”// You reply back. //“That is why I must speak about this with Christian's family as soon as possible. We must [[prepare]] for any situations that may occur. It is a bit stressful to be honest.”//

"Do you regret it?" //"Pardon?"// Supervisor Amela's question takes you by surprise. "Do you regret making suggesting this?" [[No]]. [[Yes]].

There is no reason for you to feel regretful. You said every fact that needs to be told. You provide the best option for the youngest daughter - a positive answer. This answer will give Christian's family to make a proper decision. //"[[I made the right choice]]."//

Thinking back to your suggestion, you may have given the youngest daughter false hope. If that is the end result, then you may have hidden the harsh truth to her. //"I do feel [[insecure]] about the decision."//

"I see." She chuckles at your gungho attitude. Perhaps she may be thinking that you said a funny answer. You made up your mind; you plan to stick with it. //"[[I don't regret it at all]]."//

Supervisor Amela hands you another clipboard. You take it with slight confusion. You examine the pages. It contains information of another patient in the Mental Health department. "We need to head off. Another patient has arrived." //"[[Understood]]."//

//"What I am about to say is my opinions. According to your father's medical records, the melanoma has already spread to three different organs. Most importantly, radiation, chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments weren't able to succeed."// "That is [[true]]," She agrees to your statement. She is panicking inside. You are too. But the difference between you and her is that you have to be calm for both of your sakes.

You continue with your fingertips fiddling with the corners of the medical records. //"The possiblity of him getting better are very slim. He is very lucky that he is saved today. But what about the other days? As time goes on, he will need to be in palliative care."// "Palliative care? But that means he is going be in vegetative state." //"Miss Smith, let me remind you that this is my opinion. Ultimately everything must be decided by you and your family members. I suggest think carefully and [[consider]] what I have said to you."//

After the talk with the youngest daughter, you find yourself accompanying Supervisor Amela to Cardiac care. Your careful steps makes Supervisor Amela confront you. "Is there something wrong?" //"I am thinking about my conversation earlier."// "With Mr. Smith's youngest daughter?" //"Yes."// "What is there to [[think about]]?"

"Did I make the right choice on suggesting that to her?" Supervisor Amela takes one good glance at you. She said, "Shouldn't you be asking that question to yourself?" And so you did... ''Did you regret choosing that suggestion?'' [[Yes I am]]. [[No I am not]].

Supervisor Amela tells you what are her thoughts. "Surely the suggestion is quite heavy. In its context, you are technically telling a family member to choose death." //"Maybe I shouldn't have..."// "Perhaps you shouldn't. But think of it on the other hand, you explain what is going to happen in the future. You didn't sugarcoat any of the facts. [[You did what you had to do]]."

//"I did what I had to do. I said what needed to be said."// Supervisor Amela offers a sympathetic smile. "Your thoughts are important, especially in a situation like this. But ultimately it is not your word that determines the patient's outcome." //"I know."// "[[It's theirs]]."

Supervisor Amela hands you a clipboard as she says: "You told her the truth." Your grip on the clipboard releases some of the stress from your brain. Supervisor Amela notices it and provides you comfort by a pat on the shoulder. "Let's go. We got [[another patient|New]] to look after."

Supervisor Amela hands you a clipboard and continues to walk to the Cardiac care. "Here's the information for our new patient. Let's head over there." She does not look back at you. She is waiting for you to trail behind her to your new destination. You murmur, //"[[Okay|New]]."//

"You can't do anything about anymore." Supervisor Amela sighs. She knows you have second thoughts since the talk has ended. "You already made the decision. You must move on to the next patient that needs us." She sighs and pats your shoulder. "At least you given Christian's family time to be with him. Before the worse can occur. So do not let the [[insecure thoughts|I don't regret it at all]] get to you."

//An emergency call [[awaits]],//

//An emergency call awaits, [[someone]] is in dire need for help//

//An emergency call awaits, someone is in dire need for help you [[have to]] hurry.//

//An emergency call awaits, someone is in dire need for help you have to hurry. [[They]] start a call.//

//An emergency call awaits, someone is in dire need for help you have to hurry. They start a call. [[You need to respond|Ending]].// Your hesitation cost you <<print $Hesitate>> seconds.

//An emergency [[call awaits]],//

//An emergency call awaits, someone is in [[dire need for help]]//

//An emergency call awaits, someone is in dire need for help you [[have]] to hurry.//

//An emergency call awaits, someone is in dire need for help you have to hurry. They start a call. [[You need|Ending]] to respond.// Your hesitation cost you <<print $Hesitate>> seconds.

//An emergency call awaits, someone is in dire need for help you have to hurry. They [[start]] a call.//

Thank you for playing. Inspiration from //Grey's Anatomy// and //Code Blue Doctor Heli//. Acknowledgements: A special thank you to the beta testers for testing this game and giving feedback. Another special thanks to Janet for her suggestions and insights on the development of this game. Created for ENG279H5F - Video Games [[Start over|Beginning]]

<span class="bigtext">RESPOND</span> [[START]] ''Disclaimer'': The characters and events in this game are purely fictional. ''Warning'': This game contains materials about events within a hospital setting. If you are uncomfortable with this content, please proceed with caution.

"Doctor $Name!" Supervisor Amela pushes you aside. She takes over the situation, ordering all of the nurses and paramedics to their assigned roles. You hope that she is going to give you a role. She doesn't. You hear the life line beeping. Beeping. Beeping. [[Beeping]].

They were [[too late|Ending]]. Your hesitation cost you <<print $Hesitate>> seconds.

''Doctor $Name, request to emergency immediately.'' Choose: [[Go]]. or <<if $Hesitate gte 5>>[[Hesitate|Why]] <<else>>[[Hesitate]]. <</if>> <<set $Hesitate to $Hesitate +1>>

Choose: [[Intubate]]. or <<if $Hesitate gte 20>>[[Hesitate|...]] <<else>>[[Hesitate|another]]. <</if>> <<set $Hesitate to $Hesitate +10>>