Completing the (Not) Malpractice challenge in Hitman’s Hokkaido mission is one of the most satisfying assassinations in the game. Instead of killing Erich Soders yourself, you manipulate the chief surgeon into doing the job for you—making it look like an accident. This guide will walk you through every step, ensuring you pull off this clever kill without raising suspicion.
The (Not) Malpractice challenge requires Agent 47 to make Chief Surgeon Nicholas Laurent botch Soders’ surgery intentionally. Unlike the Malpractice challenge, where you impersonate the surgeon and sabotage the operation yourself, this method involves psychological manipulation and careful planning. The key steps include obtaining incriminating evidence, disguising yourself appropriately, and exploiting the surgeon’s personal weaknesses.
Step 1: Getting the Bodyguard Disguise
Your first task is accessing Yuki Yamazaki’s private room to retrieve crucial evidence. To do this, you’ll need a bodyguard disguise.
- Location: Head to the security room near the morgue in the medical wing.
- Method: A lone bodyguard monitors the security cameras here. Knock him out silently and take his uniform.
- Alternative: If the security room is too risky, push one of the bodyguards near the cable car area off the ledge and subdue the other.
This disguise grants you access to restricted areas, including Yamazaki’s suite.
Step 2: Retrieving Erich Soders’ Kill List
Inside Yamazaki’s room, you’ll find a laptop containing a kill list that implicates Soders in the death of the chief surgeon’s father.
- Timing: Wait until Yuki and her guards leave the room to avoid confrontation.
- Action: Interact with the laptop to extract the data. This evidence is crucial for manipulating Dr. Laurent later.
Step 3: Obtaining the Surgeon’s Disguise
This is the trickiest part. You need surgical scrubs to access the operating theater’s control room.
- Option 1 (Easier): Follow the Makeover mission story. Disguise yourself as Jason Portman (the bandaged patient) and wait until he’s taken to the medical wing. When left alone with a surgeon, subdue him and take his outfit.
- Option 2 (Harder): If you missed Portman’s opportunity, locate the surgeon in the physical therapy room. He cycles between this room and a nearby hallway. Knock him out when he’s isolated, but beware of patrolling guards and mirrors that can reveal your actions.
Step 4: Uploading the Kill List to KAI
With the surgeon’s disguise, proceed to the robot surgery control room.
- Terminal Access: Find the terminal linked to KAI, the hospital’s AI system.
- Upload Evidence: Insert the kill list when no one is watching. This will expose Soders’ crimes to Dr. Laurent when he checks the terminal.
However, the evidence alone isn’t enough—Laurent is too professional to act on it immediately. You’ll need to push him over the edge.
Step 5: Acquiring the Helicopter Pilot’s Disguise
The final piece of the puzzle involves exploiting Dr. Laurent’s drug habit.
- Locate the Pilot: Nicknamed “Nails,” he moves between the helipad and a security room where he stashes pills.
- Subdue Him: Knock him out when he’s alone, hide his body, and take his uniform.
- Avoid Detection: Be mindful of the roaming handyman near the stairs.
Step 6: Drugging the Surgeon
Now, return to the helipad wearing the pilot’s disguise.
- Wait for Laurent: He’ll eventually approach, asking for his usual “fix.”
- Lead Him to the Stash: Guide him to the pill stash in the security room. Once there, he’ll overdose, becoming erratic and vengeful.
Step 7: Witnessing the Assassination
With Laurent under the influence, he’ll storm back to the operating theater.
- Final Outcome: In his drugged state, he’ll intentionally botch Soders’ surgery, killing him on the table.
- Challenge Complete: The (Not) Malpractice challenge is unlocked, rewarding you with 4,000 XP.
Tips for a Smooth Run
- Save Often: This challenge involves multiple steps—save progress after each major milestone.
- Use Distractions: Throw coins or other objects to lure guards away from key areas.
- Patience is Key: Some steps require precise timing. Wait for the right moment to avoid detection.
Why This Method is Worth It
The (Not) Malpractice challenge is a brilliant example of Hitman’s sandbox design. Instead of brute-forcing your way through, you orchestrate events so that someone else does the dirty work. It’s a stealthy, creative assassination that feels incredibly rewarding when executed perfectly.
