Doctor Man (Awful Hospital)

"Our staff will stand by safety protocols to the death if they must...and I believe we have established whose death that would be, Fern."

- Doctor Man

Dr. Ichabod Malachi Man is a human doctor in Awful Hospital.

Description
Doctor Man is presumably a human who came from Falling Creek, Virginia, and who was a doctor back when he was there. He seems to have memories of this previous life, as well as it being implied that he was sent here after trying to treat a patient infected with the red blight. He is unsure as to whether he really is the original human whose likeness he shares or merely an empty shell of him, or a thing that took on his identity. In addition, he claims to be the weakest, least experience, and youngest doctor in this strange hospital. He also claims to be the only doctor who not only can help Fern with her son's case but also who would do it. While he does know of the effects taht the red blight have on both the grey zone and the hospital, he is completely incapable of perceiving the existence of the Parliament of the Old Flesh, unable to even hear Fern ask her what this is. He tends to feel alienated from his fellow staff, though he does try to get along with them. He describes his interactions with them in the first pages of this journal. However, he seems to have strong hatred for Doctor Phage. In the story, Fern happens to stumble across him and his journals which reveal some of his backstory. Interestingly, though he is ambiguous and uses cryptic language, he at least makes it seem like he cares about Fern and wants her young child to make it out safely. However, it is not clear if what he is doing is actually helping, though he does still provide useful information. He recognizes her as a security threat, and implies that, would it not be for her son's condition and her son being a potential key in solving the problems of the hospital, he would follow hospital protocols and deal with her accordingly. He even goes as far as to fight her as she approaches the malternity ward, not holding his punches back and emerging victorious. He does immediately visit her in her hospital bed after the fight, however, explaining that he will still let her go there while still warning her of the many dangers that could lie ahead of her.