Chapter 14 - THE MEDICAL REPORT
Aurelia’s lawyer emphasized that neither child suffered lasting medical injury.
Correct.
Elliot:
Heat exhaustion.
Mild dehydration.
Transient dizziness.
No kidney injury.
No arrhythmia.
No neurologic deficit.
Discharged after observation and fluids.
Clara:
Mild hyperthermia.
Mild dehydration.
No infection.
No seizure.
No organ injury.
Observed longer because infants can deteriorate quickly.
Then the pediatric expert.
“Could the situation have become dangerous rapidly?”
“Yes.”
“Can you quantify exactly what would have happened if another five minutes passed?”
“No.”
Good.
No fake certainty.
Then:
“Does blocking direct sunlight with a child’s body make a hot vehicle safe?”
“No.”
Elliot had tried.
His body reduced sunlight reaching Clara’s face.
It did not reduce cabin heat.
I hated that he had to learn this.
Dr. Flynn reframed it carefully.
“You protected Clara the way you knew how.”
Then:
May you like
“Adults were supposed to protect both of you.”
That was the sentence Elliot needed.
