In a bustling town, there lived a renowned surgeon named Dr. Lucas. Known for his skill and dedication, Dr. Lucas had served the community for many years. One night, he was awakened by a phone call. It was a distressed man, Mr. Ahmed, who explained that his wife was in severe pain. Dr. Lucas, accustomed to such emergencies, asked Mr. Ahmed to bring his wife to the hospital in the morning. However, if the pain was unbearable, he advised bringing her immediately.

That night, Mrs. Ahmed was rushed to the hospital. Dr. Lucas examined her and, after conducting some scans, diagnosed her with appendicitis. The surgery was performed promptly, and Mrs. Ahmed recovered well. Dr. Lucas’s expertise once again prevailed, bringing relief and gratitude from the Ahmed family.

Two years passed. One night, Dr. Lucas received another urgent call from Mr. Ahmed. “Doctor, you may not remember me, but you operated on my wife two years ago for appendicitis,” Mr. Ahmed began.

“Ah, yes, I remember,” Dr. Lucas replied. “How can I help you tonight?”

“My wife is in severe pain again, just like before. She needs her appendix removed immediately,” Mr. Ahmed said, his voice filled with urgency.

Dr. Lucas advised Mr. Ahmed to bring his wife to the hospital for further examination, assuring him that he would take the necessary actions.

While continuing the conversation over the phone call, Mr. Ahmed insisted that his wife had an appendix problem, as her symptoms were identical to those typically associated with it.

Dr. Lucas paused, irritated. “Mr. Ahmed, that’s not possible. I removed her appendix two years ago. Every person has only one appendix.”

Mr. Ahmed, equally puzzled, insisted, “Doctor, please come quickly. Her pain is unbearable. We can’t afford to waste time.”

Dr. Lucas, despite his confusion, agreed to meet them at the hospital. He would get her scanned to determine the cause of her pain. Mr. Ahmed interjected, “Doctor, there’s no need for all these investigations. It’s her appendix, I am sure.”

Dr. Lucas smiled gently. “Mr. Ahmed, she cannot have appendicitis again because she doesn’t have an appendix anymore.”

Mr. Ahmed took a deep breath and replied, “Doctor, you’re right. But this is my second wife.”

Dr. Lucas paused briefly, then burst into laughter. “I understand! Get her to the hospital right away. I’m notifying the staff to get ready for the necessary examinations. I’ll perform the surgery immediately.”

And so, with a renewed sense of urgency and a hint of amusement, Dr. Lucas prepared to assist once more, ready to bring relief to yet another member of the Ahmed family.

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Dr. Lucas’s experience serves as a reminder that while our expertise and intuition are valuable, they should be balanced with open-mindedness and thorough verification. By recognizing the pitfalls of assumptions, we can navigate life with greater clarity and make wiser decisions.