“There is an art to medicine as well as science.”
Things are cordially awkward between Will and Natalie this episode, understandably because of Will’s kiss attack last week. But of course, they are on a case together this week. A little girl, Shiloh, comes to the ER with strange symptoms. Also, her parents are obnoxiously intelligent engineers and think they know best for probably every decision to be made under the sun.
Shiloh’s test results show she has a rare type of Influenza, one that is covered in standard vaccinations. But Shiloh’s parents don’t believe in vaccinations for themselves or their children…deep breath in, deep breath out…props to the two actors playing these parents this week, they did an incredible job at making me hate them. Of course, everyone is entitled to believe what they want to believe and the vaccination debate is a hot topic. If you don’t want to vaccinate your kids, fine. That’s your decision. But to send them to school where they could infect everyone around them is just wrong.
Will and Natalie visit Shiloh’s school to check the students and teachers. All seems to be going well until the teacher collapses and Natalie is forced to do mouth to mouth. No! Now Natalie could be infected, and she has that sweet baby Owen! My hatred for these parents reaches new heights.
Will seems to agree with me, as he confronts the parents when they return to the hospital.
“What you really want is for every other kid to be vaccinated so yours can be safe!”Fair point, Will. Fair point. Natalie confronts him, and they finally talk about the kiss. It’s all very confusing, honestly. She doesn’t really tell him no, but she doesn’t tell him yes either. She’s “not in that place yet.” Well, we all know it’s coming. It’s just a matter of time.
Elsewhere…
The legal proceedings continue to move forward for Will and the Baker family. A few episodes back, Will ignored a DNR in place for Jennifer Baker, a woman with cancer. Meanwhile, Not Rachel McAdams makes another appearance and tells Will that Jennifer is doing well in the cancer trial for a new drug. Now I don’t condone what Will did; he blatantly ignored a patient’s wishes and broke the law in the process. But, Jennifer seems to have a real chance with this new trial, so it seems only a matter of time before the lawsuit is dropped. That, and Will is the lead so they can’t go kick him off…probably.
An old med school friend of Daniel’s comes to Chicago Med this week, a Dr. Unger. Sarah helps treat a patient of Dr. Unger’s who comes into the ER displaying Necrotizing Fasciitis, also called a flesh-eating disease. Unfortunately, it’s something rarely stopped. When the patient’s husband talks to Sarah, she learns he went to see Dr. Unger for what he thought was a pimple. That pimple was actually the start of the disease, and Dr. Unger missed it.
Thanks to April, Sarah accesses Dr. Unger’s patient history file and finds that he’s missed several key diagnoses over the past two years. This leads to an investigation, and Sharon is forced to make a tough decision. Dr. Unger is fired, essentially, and it’s sad to see him go. He didn’t do anything maliciously, it was all a mistake. But when lives are on the line, you can’t take chances.
Sharon celebrates her thirty-second anniversary with her husband this episode! Too bad that’s the only good thing going for her this week. She’s got a tough job, you guys! Between the Baker’s lawsuit, a disobedient Will, and Dr. Unger, her anniversary isn’t going well.
April’s turd of a brother, Noah, is back this week. He apparently passed the medical test he was studying for last time we saw him, but doesn’t seem to care too much about his job. He’d rather flirt. When Maggie tells April a patient was given medication that could have killed him (as he was allergic), April is immediately suspicious of Noah. Of course it was Noah, and he doesn’t seem to realize the gravity of his mistake. He has this carefree attitude that will only get him in serious trouble. While she at first decides not to say anything, Noah’s continued carefree behavior prompts April to write him up.
“You are my brother and I love you. But you need to grow up. If you’re going to be a doctor, I want you to be a good one.”April is amazing and I wholeheartedly agree with her decision.
Connor and Ethan treat a patient, Ken Gallagher, with an LVAD issue. In case you don’t know what that is (or haven’t seen Grey’s Anatomy…RIP Denny), an LVAD pumps blood for a heart that can’t and is typically a temporary fix prior to a transplant. Ken’s LVAD is giving him excruciating GI ulcers, so much so that Ken removes his LVAD batteries in an attempt to kill himself after Connor and Ethan refuse to remove the LVAD.
While Ethan is vehemently against removing the LVAD, Connor’s perspective changes after a conversation with Dr. Downey.
“The patient has asked you to remove it, yes? Then honor his wishes. I hope when my time comes, I would be so lucky as to have someone to extend me the same consideration.”Hmmm…well not only does Connor’s change of heart cause friction between him and Ethan, but Dr. Downey’s comment seems to be a bit of foreshadowing. While Dr. Downey is going through chemotherapy, I think his cancer is severe enough that he’s not expected to live long. I wouldn’t be surprised if before the season is over, we see Connor faced with the very decision Dr. Downey is referring to here.
Ethan bursts into the OR and pleads with Connor to not take out the LVAD. “What you’re doing is assisted suicide.” That’s not a comment to take lightly, and I hope it doesn’t ruin the great friendship these two have started. My two favorite relationships on this show are between Connor and Ethan, and Connor and Dr. Downey. While tension is intriguing and needed for any relationship and story, I hope it doesn’t ruin anything!
Speaking of tension in a relationship, the tension between Connor and Sam continues strong this week as her resentment grows. It doesn’t help when Sarah comes into the OR asking for an update she can give the family. Sam gives her that update, but Sarah clears the message with Connor before leaving. “Did a med student just seriously go over my head to you?” Sam asks. Things are not looking good for these two.
Later in the hour, Sam shows Connor her offer to be head of Trauma at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. She’s taking it! I didn’t think these two would last, but I am surprised things are ending this way.
What did you think of the episode? How will the lawsuit against Will end? Will Ethan and Connor overcome the disagreement over the LVAD? Share your thoughts below!