The White Room

“Hello? Hello, yes, it’s me.”


“No, I’ve seen her today, just now in fact.”


“Yes, she’s fine, I think. Making progress.”


“No, not yet.”


“I think you’re going to have to be patient. She is very fragile at the moment. I don’t want to push her too far too quickly.”


“No, of course. I realise that. I know you’d rather we got results fast…”


“But I don’t want to break her completely. I don’t want her to become permanently ill. I just want her to think that she’s ill, not for her to become irretrievable. Anything else would be unprof…”


“Yes, I know that none of this is professional, but to do that to her would be…”


“No, no. She doesn’t seem to remember that at all.”


“To be honest, it’s hard to know what she actually thinks, deep down inside…”


“Yes, I know I’m a psychiatrist, but even we don’t have a window on…”


“I’m sorry, but I can only go on what she tells me.”


“No, I don’t think that’s necessary. I think they’re working well at this dose. She is already unstable and seems pretty afraid of the outside world. I think if we let nature take it’s course, then…”


“Of course. I’m aware that you want the documents signed and it all finished, but it’s not just me who can do that for you. I can get her to that point, but an independent second opinion is needed to satisfy the requirement that she’s no longer capable…”


“Yes, but that means her condition needs to be real and consistent, and she has to recognise herself that she’s a…”


“I’m sorry, could you repeat th…”


“What do you mean?”


“But this week is too soon.”
“Oh, I see. Well, if you insist…”