Ethics vs. Loyalty in Medicine

I watched my attending forge a patient's consent form right in front of me. She needed an emergency

splenectomy. Family couldn't be reached. He said we had no choice.

I stood there frozen while he signed her husband's name. She survived the surgery.

Woke up grateful. But three days later the husband showed up. Threatened to sue.

Said he never would have consented. My attending pulled me aside. Told me if I said

anything, my career was over before it started. The patient is alive because of that

surgery. But I witnessed a felony. I reported it to the ethics board

yesterday. Now half the department won't speak to me. The other half calls me a hero.