Paul Edmonds

"If you want out of here you're gonna have to start being honest with me."

―Paul Edmonds to Danny Rand^[src]

Paul Edmonds is a psychiatrist working at Birch Psychiatric Hospital who treated Danny Rand when he was first committed to the facility.

Biography[]

Evaluating John Anderson[]

"What I'd like you to do... is to open yourself to the posibility that there is no Iron Fist. Just Danny Rand. A young man, who suffered an unspeakable tragedy."

―Paul Edmonds to Danny Rand^[src]

Rand Hospital — Edmonds speaks with John Anderson

Paul Edmonds was assigned to evaluate John Anderson, the man who deluded himself into believing that he was Danny Rand. Edmonds went to Anderson's room, asking if he woke him up, and Anderson told him that he was trying to recharge his "Chi" to get out. Edmonds explained to Anderson that he will have to spent at least 72 hours at the hospital and removed one of his restraints, so they could talk. Anderson kept insisting that he was truly Danny Rand, but Edmonds did not believe him, since Rand died in the plane crash fifteen years ago. Edmonds then asked Anderson to provide him with details, and he explained how his parents died and he was rescued by the Order of the Crane Mother. Edmonds took notes of Anderson's story and changed the subject, showing him a passport of John Anderson with his photo on it. Anderson denied his knowledge of the passport, leading Edmonds to conclude that he will not cooperate, so he left the room.

Edmonds visited Anderson again next morning to continue their dialogue, although Anderson expressed his discomfort with the drugs he had been taking. Anderson admitted that he had been lying about the passport but still insisted that he was Danny Rand and that he had bought the passport in Morocco to get to the United States of America. Edmonds still was not convinced and told Anderson that they will discuss it in their next session, leaving Anderson to take his medicine.

Later, Edmonds summoned Anderson to his office and showed him a Rand Enterprises commercial with the real Danny Rand, theorizing that Anderson deluded himself due to his desire to have a better life. However, Anderson started to talk about the details of the commercial filming, still stating that he was Rand, but Edmonds insisted that it was merely a delusion and his name is John Anderson. Anderson furiously smashed Edmonds' computer, leading to the hospital staff drugging Anderson and taking him out of the office. Later, Edmonds decided to do some research and contacted Joy Meachum, asking her about the filming of the commercial. Meachum's story fully aligned with what Anderson told him, to Edmonds' great surprise.

Edmonds met with Anderson the next day, when his 72 hours at the hospital were almost up, and asked him a few more questions about his past. Anderson told him about his home education, what fully aligned with Danny Rand's biography, leading Edmonds to realize that he was telling the truth all along. Edmonds asked Rand where he had been all these years, and Rand told him about his training at K'un-Lun where he was taught to channel his Chi to summon the Iron Fist. Edmonds concluded that Rand's traumatic disorder led to him deluding himself into thinking that he had some kind of superpowers.

Edmonds diagnosed Rand with an anxiety disorder with psychotic features, noting that a lot of people had the similar condition in the wake of the Battle of New York, and now he could make an efficient plan of treatment. Rand, however, insisted that there was nothing wrong with him and he should be let out, but when Edmonds asked him to demonstrate his powers, Rand failed to do so. Edmonds told Rand that he needed to be kept at the hospital for his own safety, trying to convince Rand that "the Iron Fist" was merely a trauma response they need to work on. However, at night, Rand was attacked by some of the patience, which resulted in him escaping from the hospital.^[1]

Evaluating Ward Meachum[]

"You just let me out of here. I will take you to him. End of story."
"But you see, Ward, that's a risky proposition for a dual diagnosis patient."

―Ward Meachum and Paul Edmonds^[src]

Edmonds went to have a therapy session with Ward Meachum, who was found by the NYPD with the Steel Serpent heroin in his car. Meachum told Edmonds that all if it was a setup, planned by his father, Harold Meachum, although Edmonds noted that Harold was dead for thirteen years, which Meachum called one of his traps. Edmonds told Meachum that he cannot let an addict with psychological disorder to roam free, although Meachum denied his addiction. Referring to the heroin found by the police and claiming that Meachum's dead father was alive, Edmonds was certain with his diagnosis and Meachum was taken to his room at the Birch Psychiatric Hospital.^[2]

Evaluating Mary Walker[]

Walker-DrEdmondsOffice-1 — Edmonds speaks with Mary Walker

"If there's a possibility your alter is capable of that level of violence, maybe you should stay. For your own safety."
"For your own safety maybe you should forget that I was ever here."

―Paul Edmonds and Mary Walker^[src]

Edmonds was visited by Mary Walker who wanted to speak about the time when she was captured at Sokovia during her tour with the United States Army. Walker explained to Edmonds that although she wanted to massacre the Sokovian Armed Forces officers who held her captive, she was not the one who did it, neither it was her alter, Mary. Edmonds asked if Mary's attempt to reach out to Walker was enough for her to seek his consultation, and pondered maybe she was rescued by someone from her unit, who surivived the attack. Walker explained to Edmonds that it was not possible, since all of her squadmates died either in the ambush or in the prison, and Sokovians made sure she would see their corpses.

Walker-DrEdmondsOffice-4 — Edmonds is threatened by Mary Walker

Edmonds then theorized that Walker could have a third alter she was not aware of, but Walker denied it, albeit without much confidence. Referring to the military report of the incident, both Edmonds and Walker agreed that Mary was not capable of the violence that was inflicted to Sokovians when Walker escaped from the captivity. Edmonds then asked Walker why did the incident resurfaced so suddenly after all these years, to which Walker replied that she was planning to start a new life in isolation, but she needed to understand the unknown variable. Edmonds noted that DID brings too many variables and suggested a treatment that would take at least six months, leading Walker to abruptly stop him. Edmonds tried to convince Walker to stay at the hospital for her own safety, but she only warned him that it would be better if he forgot about her being there in the first place, before leaving.^[3]