As the second chapter of "Malpractice" unfolds, Dr. Lucinda Edwards (portrayed by Niamh Algar) receives a hurried call from Beth, reminding her of her tardiness. Arriving at the hospital in haste, she is promptly informed about Rob Thornbury (Douglas Hansell), a victim of a hit-and-run accident. Lucinda offers Ramya Morgan (played by Priyanka Patel) the option to step back to Majors if the gravity of the situation overwhelms her, but Dr. Morgan reassuringly declines, stating she is composed.
They discover that Rob's blood pressure continues to plummet, his jugular veins are dilated, and his heart sounds are barely audible. Oscar Beattie (Scott Chambers) initiates chest compressions while Lucinda prepares for an emergency thoracotomy. In a desperate bid to revive him, Lucinda decides to manually massage his heart, and miraculously, she succeeds in restarting its rhythm.
However, the ordeal leaves Lucinda feeling nauseous, prompting her to rush to the bathroom. She scrolls through her phone, deleting messages intended for Rob. Calling George Adjei (Jordan Kouame), she informs him of the staffing shortage, making it impossible for her to attend their scheduled meeting. George understands and postpones the interview to the next day but warns of stricter consequences if she cancels again. Norma Callahan (Helen Behan) queries George's trust in Lucinda, and he concedes that her story is plausible.
Returning home, Lucinda confronts Tom (Lorne MacFadyen), who inquiries about her unexpected disappearance and lack of communication earlier. Lucinda apologizes, explaining she was urgently summoned to work due to an accident involving a former colleague, exacerbating her emotions.
The next day, Lucinda attends the meeting with Norma and George, agreeing to proceed despite her representative's absence. The trio reviews CCTV footage showing Lucinda on a break at 8:52 a.m., preceding the 9:07 a.m. emergency call about Edith Owusu's overdose. The inquiry team wonders how Lucinda could have informed Dr. Morgan of the overdose before the official call. Lucinda insists on her mistake, emphasizing the impossibility of foreseeing the call. The caller's identity, traced to an unregistered number, remains a mystery to her.
Questions then pivot to her past leave of absence due to pandemic-induced stress. Lucinda cites her frontline role during the global crisis as a triggering factor. Norma challenges the redaction of significant portions of her record, and Lucinda asserts her right to decline discussing expunged matters.
Norma asserts that she has a credible source alleging Lucinda's involvement in an assault on a patient. Lucinda counters by relating how she was prematurely summoned from maternity leave amidst dire circumstances. Exhausted and weakened, she was unaware that her fatigue stemmed not from breastfeeding her daughter, Abi, but from an undetected COVID-19 infection. She persevered at work, oblivious to her condition, which ultimately led to numerous fatalities traced back to her interactions with patients in the Accident and Emergency department. Consequently, Lucinda was granted a ten-day leave to cope with the anxiety induced by the harm she inadvertently caused. Upon her return, she was on pins and needles, her nerves frayed.
One fateful day, an intoxicated individual stormed in, ranting about the fictional nature of COVID-19. Lucinda, attempting to enforce safety protocols, requested he don a mask, to no avail. She harbors regrets about resuming her duties too soon. Fortunately, inaccuracies in the official record allowed her to have it expunged, insisting vehemently that no assault occurred during the pandemic.
George reveals they have been apprised of a more contemporary incident involving Lucinda assaulting a coworker, an allegation she steadfastly denies. He declines to disclose the accuser's identity, acknowledging the lack of a formal complaint. After Lucinda's departure, Norma confronts George, asserting Lucinda's dishonesty. He ponders the challenge of proving her deceit, while Norma urges him to accompany her to the Patient Care Awards that evening, where Lucinda's team is nominated.
At work, Lucinda checks on Rob, only to find a woman by his side. She confides in a colleague about Rob once being her supervisor during medical school, expressing surprise at the sight, unaware of his critical condition until informed. They share thoughts on Rob's wife, who will soon shoulder the responsibility of caring for two toddlers and a newborn. As Sam Henry (played by Daniel Larkai) bids Lucinda farewell, she visits Dr. Leo Harris (played by James Purefoy), who admits she has always been his preferred candidate for the consultant position. However, he clarifies that offering her the role immediately is infeasible due to legal constraints. He counsels her to skip the awards ceremony, but Lucinda is determined not to miss it.
At the glittering awards ceremony, Ramya engages in conversation with Oscar, who later seeks refreshment at the bar, where fatefully, he encounters Lucinda. Upon catching sight of George and Norma amidst the crowd, Lucinda utters her suspicion that they have come with the intention of damping her evening's spirit. Oscar reassures her otherwise. Lucinda warmly greets Professor Corrine Lonergan, professing her admiration for her groundbreaking work. She is then introduced to Jubair Singh, the esteemed proprietor of the Wellspring Pharmacy chain. Contrary to Lucinda's expectations, Corrine isn't a nominee; she holds the esteemed position of Vice President at Biocura Pharmaceuticals.
Dr. Mike Willett, portrayed by Tristan Sturrock, inquiries Leo about his attempt to dissuade Lucinda from attending. Leo confirms his effort, noting Lucinda's stubborn attendance regardless. Lucinda seized the opportunity to request Corrine to keep her abreast of any consulting opportunities. Corrine, acknowledging Lucinda's awareness of the deceased young woman and the ongoing investigation, shares a poignant anecdote from her past—a similar tragedy that had steeringly influenced her career trajectory, a decision she now regrets.
As the award ceremony unfolds, the A&E team from West Yorkshire Royal Hospital is honored with the prestigious award. Lucinda, accepting the accolade on their behalf, ensures Leo and Mike receive a round of applause, revealing Mike's reluctance to have her there due to this gesture. Lucinda reflects on the collective missteps during the pandemic, acknowledging their collective lack of preparedness. She dedicates the award to the tireless medical staff striving amidst uncertainty.
Post-ceremony, George approaches Ramya Morgan, seeking a private discourse regarding Lucinda. Norma, whispering discreetly, emphasizes the benefit of having Lucinda as an informant. Ramya considers this proposition cautiously, mindful of the risks she's already incurred. The following morning, Lucinda is summoned early by the coroner's notice for the Owusu inquest. Dr. Willett offers sage advice, emphasizing the importance of documentation in legal proceedings. Leo adds that her psychiatrist and GP, Dr. Charlotte Peal, will also be in attendance. Oscar finds himself dealing with Mary Johnson once more, despite Lucinda's recent discharge of her just two days prior. Lucinda agrees to draft the necessary request for him.
She instructs him to jot down his login credentials, assuring him she'll attend to it promptly after wrapping up her own tasks. Once he exits, Lucinda swiftly employs his details to access Edith's information, her curiosity piqued. She delves into Rob's messages and uncovers two particularly intriguing ones—one referencing Camille Woodham and another Alexander Taylor. Prior to entering Rob's hospital room, she explores Taylor's profile, her mind racing. As she steps inside, Lucinda swaps Rob's phone with another, subsequently attempting to decipher its passcode. Frustration mounts as she nears the limit of her attempts, her pulse quickening when she realizes she's running low on medication.
The tremors in her hands hinder her work on a patient, prompting her to offer a break, hoping to calm her nerves before resuming. Lucinda urgently requests Ramya to procure four 10mg diazepam tablets, but Ramya warns that even 40mg might knock her out. Determined, Lucinda brings the phone to a repair shop, stressing the importance of retaining all its data. The technician informs her to return the next morning, and she signs the paperwork under the alias Lucy Ward.
Back home, Lucinda watches the evening news with Tom, where a report on Rob's accident catches her eye. She excuses herself for bed, sneakily consuming a few pills in the privacy of her bedroom. The following day, she visits Eva, introducing herself as one of the doctors who oversaw her husband's care. Eva finds this unusual, given that doctors seldom make home visits. Lucinda elaborates, claiming that Rob had reached out, seeking assistance with some of his GP patients requiring A&E attention.
They were patients under his care at his general practitioner's clinic, where he tailored prescriptions meticulously to deter them from resorting to illegal street drugs. Eva attested to his being a compassionate physician trapped within a rigid healthcare system. Lucinda, on the other hand, believed he prescribed them a week's supply of methadone to alleviate the burden of daily pickups. Tragedy struck when one of his patients inadvertently overdosed, prompting Rob to appeal to Lucinda, urging her to classify the incident as deliberate. Now, with the Medical Incident Unit scrutinizing Lucinda, the truth behind Rob's prescribing practices is poised to be uncovered. Despite Lucinda's thorough examination of her medical records, Rob's name remained elusive. Seeking to caution Eva about the potential peril facing both Rob and herself, Lucinda's warning was met with Eva's distress, compelling her to depart abruptly.
Ramya received an urgent call concerning a critical opioid overdose involving a 27-year-old male, Milo Hanbury (played by Darryl Dale). As Milo was rushed into the hospital, Lucinda guided Ramya through the emergency protocols. It took two doses of naloxone before they realized that the medication was being swiftly metabolized. Lucinda observed the state of Milo's veins, finding them severely compromised, and made the swift decision to insert an intravenous line into his neck, navigating blindly. Leo arrived shortly after, summoned by Ramya, only to find that his presence was unnecessary as the situation was under control. In a conversation with Milo's mother, Lucinda discovered his recent visits to The Guelder Clinic. Ramya later visited George, confirming her agreement to assist them.
Lucinda delved deeper into the Guelder Clinic, stumbling upon a photograph of Eva Tait on their website. George shared with Norma the striking similarity between Lucinda's handling of Milo's case and an incident involving Edith. They concurred on investigating all overdose cases Lucinda managed this year, cross-referencing them with her phone records. Upon retrieving her repaired phone, Lucinda found messages from individuals requesting sedatives and various pills. One message detailed Edith's struggles with the medication. Another, from JS, warned Rob of impending doom if the situation escalated further.
