Soap opera Episode 1: The body in the evidence base room

Since the last issue of Student BMJ, BMJ Careers has launched a soap opera. It is now up to episode 7, but you can read the first instalment here, but catch up with the rest and read it every week at bmjcareers.com

“There are cockroaches in the kitchens, dirty dressings in the theatre, and a body in the evidence base room,” said the man from the CHI.

“It's probably Bob the librarian having his afternoon nap,” said Martha Millstone, medical director, consultant surgeon, mother of two, and general gofer.

“A dead body,” said the man from the CHI.

“We have a very small mortuary,” said Martha, “although when it overflows we usually use the chapel of rest.”

“A dead body,” repeated the man from the CHI, “by the cupboard where the audit reports should have been filed.”

That Monday, reflected Martha, had started much as any other Monday. She awoke at 5 am. Her husband, Dr David Millstone, clinical director and consultant psychiatrist, snored on. Martha looked at the top of his head. The balder he got the closer he shaved his hair. To Martha anything other than general surgery indicated a feeble mind, a failure of spirit. It was a source of continual embarrassment to her that, not only was her husband a …