Chicago Med (2015) s07e02 Episode Script
To Lean In, or to Let Go
Your shoe laces.
Those are gang colors.
What are you, a cop? I used to be.
But now I'm a doc.
Doctor Hammer.
What brought you back to Chicago? Home, sweet home.
- What made you stay? - Same.
And what's up with you and her? - Let's go.
- All right, let's get her CT.
Dr.
Cooper? What happened with your patient? Is this due to the cardiac output monitor? I want to come back to Med.
Dr.
Cooper is our biggest booster of the Vas-COM, and I suspect it's because he's getting kickbacks.
You're saying you want me to be your spy? Are you in or out? Dr.
Halstead.
Thank you.
Glad to catch you on your way in.
I did some digging on the Open Payments website.
Turns out, Dr.
Cooper has gotten some very fat perks since he started boosting the Vas-COM.
He has also received more than a few "consulting fees" from Vasik Labs and other companies.
And you think they're hidden bribes for promoting the device.
Yeah, illegal kickbacks.
We have to establish that they are bribes tied to the sale of the device.
Look, I can't report Dr.
Cooper, ruin his career, unless I know for sure.
I could stop by the ICU today, see what the Critical Care docs are saying about the Vas-COM and why they're using it so frequently.
See if it's Cooper's doing.
I like that.
Uh, Dr.
Halstead.
Be careful.
Maggie! Morning, Dr.
Taylor.
I, um I found this in my locker.
Was it you? - Yeah, I didn't mean to - No thank you.
Happy birthday.
And don't worry.
No one else knows.
Good, 'cause I don't like to make a fuss.
And of all the days to come in early.
What are you doing here, anyway? You shift doesn't start for another two hours! Decided to start rounding early.
I want to stay two steps ahead of my competition.
No, actually, I want to crush them And win some brownie points with Dr.
Archer.
Atta girl.
Oh, and I know that you probably have other plans, but if you don't, can I take you out for a drink? Okay, I might be down for a drink.
I'll let you know.
Okay.
And that's when I realized that standing out was way better than trying to fit in.
So next time them little girls start runnin' their little mouths making fun of your height, you don't throw hands.
You just look at them and say Don't hate me 'cause you ain't me.
That's right! - Thank you, Dr.
Scott, really.
- Hey, it's my pleasure.
Okay, just try to calm down, please.
- Y'all take care.
- Please, I'm scared.
Please.
Oh, my God, are you a doctor? Please help me, please help me.
- I don't want to die, please.
- It's okay, it's all right.
- What happened? - Said she took some pills.
Sleeping pills, I think.
Her name is Krista Valdez.
- Hey, Treatment 4.
- All right, calm down.
- Sorry, I'm so sorry.
- It's all right.
Just slow your breathing.
- Okay.
- Okay? So you say you took some sleeping pills.
You gotta tell me how many and how long ago.
Uh, I don't know.
12, maybe 14, about ten minutes ago.
- Grab the activated charcoal.
- Got it.
And I'll grab an NG setup.
- Oh, God.
- You got that charcoal ready? - Right here.
- All right.
Okay, Krista, I need you to drink that down slow and steady, all right? It'll help absorb the drugs.
There you go.
Uh-huh.
Oh, God, I can't.
All right, come on.
Give it one more try.
You got it.
There you go.
Yup.
See? NG tube.
- I'm sorry, I can't do it.
- It's all right.
It's all right.
Listen, I'm gonna take this tube, I'm gonna stick it down your nose, and into your stomach, give you the charcoal that way.
No, just wait Am I gonna die? Because this was a mistake.
Okay? I swear.
Listen, you did the right thing by coming in.
We got you.
Now, hang tight.
You're gonna feel this, but it won't last a second.
- Okay.
- Page Dr.
Charles.
Mm-hmm.
Hey, Trish.
Orders for L3.
I was wondering, is it me, or does it seem like we've been seeing the Vas-COM used a lot more frequently as of late? Oh, yeah.
Dr.
Cooper can't stop talking about it.
Really? What's he, uh, saying? Heard my name.
- You looking for me? - Matt, hey.
Yeah, actually.
Was, uh, curious to learn more of the benefits with the Vas-COM device.
It's a pretty remarkable product, really.
In fact, since we've started using it, we've seen an 8% reduction in mortality.
Phew.
8%? - Yeah.
- Yeah, that's impressive.
But, uh, how exactly do you draw a correlation to the device? Oh, it's pretty simple math, really.
So when you're monitoring flow, your patient is, more often than not, in the correct fluid balance, and so that alone has dramatically reduced ICU acute kidney injury rates, which we know is directly correlated to prognosis.
It's not a perfect science.
But the Vas-COM's the only new variable we've introduced, so - Pretty straight line.
- Yeah, yeah.
And the other devices on the market can't even hold a candle.
Vas-COM is a bit more pricey.
- Oh, yeah? - Sure, of course.
But, I mean, cost/benefit, am I right? Oh, listen.
Sorry, I gotta run.
I can send you more info if you're interested.
Yeah, please do! Hey, Nancy, have you seen Dr.
Halstead? - Uh, not for a while, no.
- Okay.
Oh! Dr.
Marcel.
Hey, morning, Ms.
Goodwin.
I've been meaning to touch base with you about a new program the hospital is setting up.
- Uh-huh.
- Totally voluntary, but attendings can sign up as advisors to residents.
Advisors? You know, meet regularly, offer counsel if they have any questions or concerns.
Just, you know, see them through their residency.
Oh, uh, well, listen.
That sounds like a great program.
I just, uh you know, I wouldn't want to leave anyone hanging, you know? Leave anyone hanging how? You planning on leaving Med? No, no.
Nothing like that.
Just, uh, like to keep my dance card open, is all.
- Mm.
- But, hey, let me think about it.
You know, you're the fifth "Let me think about it" this week.
Thank you.
Hey! Hey, you okay? Um, uh, just a little light-headed.
Come on, let's sit down.
You know, I've got this, uh, this gadget, let's Oh, blood sugar's a bit high.
Yeah, it's been like that all week.
Maybe I'll stop by Endocrinology, see if Dr.
Yang can squeeze me in.
Okay, just as a precaution.
You know? - Yeah, yeah.
- Hey, you gonna be okay? I'm gonna be fine, thank you.
- Hey.
- I didn't get far.
Cooper caught me off-guard.
Gave me his hard sales pitch.
I gotta say, this guy's good.
So if he's ever confronted, he can defend everything he's doing as legit.
Do you think he suspected anything? No, but if he is who you say he is, confession's gonna be tough.
Incoming! Who's free? Oh, go, go.
And swing by later? Yeah.
- I'm on it.
- I got this.
- More the merrier, I guess.
- After you.
What do we got? 17 year-old male, passed out at a skate park.
BP 100/20, heart rate 70.
Blood sugar was 200.
Gave a liter of normal saline in the ambo.
- What's your name? - Brandon.
Brandon, I'm Dr.
Hammer.
I'm Dr.
Halstead.
- You got a history of diabetes? - No, uh, no, I don't.
Did someone call my mom? Oh, cops called her.
She's en route.
Brandon, you feel stable enough to switch beds yourself? - Uh yeah, yeah I'm fine.
- Brandon? Oh, my God.
Are you okay, honey? I'm fine, Mom, really.
What were you doing at the skate park? You were supposed to be studying.
- I know.
- It is not good to exert yourself like that.
The stress.
He has Addison's disease.
Was this another crisis? No, it's his blood sugar.
But is he on steroids as a part of his regimen? Yes, Prednisone.
Prednisone can cause high blood sugar - if he's getting too much.
- He's not.
I manage all of Brandon's medications.
I take care of everything.
What he eats, steps per day.
We're very careful.
Are you sure you're all right? Yes, Mom, I'm fine.
Well, if we're sure medication isn't the cause, let's get an A1c test.
That'll give us an idea of his blood sugar levels over a period of time.
It'll help us determine whether his body's making insulin.
There's a chance that he could have developed diabetes.
Oh, God.
No.
Brandon's supposed to be part of an Addison clinical trial for a subcutaneous medication device.
Mom, please.
Diabetes is an exclusionary factor.
It's okay, Mom.
There's gonna be other trials.
Let's not jump the gun just yet.
There may be another explanation.
We'll circle back around as soon as we have something.
We're gonna figure this out.
So, Krista, Dr.
Scott's telling me that this is the first time that you find yourself in a situation like this.
Is that right? Oh, my God.
Yes.
It was such a stupid mistake.
I had been drinking, so I wasn't in my right mind, and as soon as I took the pills, I regretted it.
When you say that you weren't in your right mind, what do you mean by that, exactly? Um I got into an argument with my mom, and I just sort of lost it.
I don't even know why I called her in the first place.
We don't even have a relationship, so I'm sorry to hear that.
Yeah, I totally overreacted.
So how much longer do I need to be here? I just I have a work trip next week.
I'm headed to the Congo, and I just have so much to take care of.
The Congo, wow.
What kind of work do you do? I work for UNICEF.
I'm a human rights attorney.
I act as a negotiator, helping to free child soldiers.
Wow.
That's impressive.
You know what? That is truly admirable.
Really.
I imagine, pretty stressful, too.
No, I have it I have it really easy.
These kids, the things that they're forced to see, forced to do Some of them are as young as five years old.
Trust me, we all live really charmed lives in comparison.
Just listen, I would really like to be discharged as soon as possible, so do you have any more tests to run or how much longer do I need to be here? I want to give you another liter of fluid, you know, make sure you're hydrated.
We'll talk after that.
You should rest a bit, and uh, we'll be back.
Nice to meet you, Krista.
Oof.
Child soldiers? She's seen some horrible things.
Oh, yeah.
No doubt.
I mean, I think we're looking at a mix of PTSD, chronic depression, just general burnout, you know? Yeah, she seems genuinely regretful, though.
You think this is the wakeup call she needed? Ending up in the hospital like this? I think she wants to believe that.
I'm not remotely sold.
Without without an outlet, she's very likely to self-harm again.
We can't just let her walk out of here then.
You know, hopefully Krista will admit herself to in-patient psych, but we gotta get her there.
A bag of saline will buy us an hour.
Stevie.
- Brandon's A1c results? - Yep.
Blood sugar's been normal.
So no diabetes.
I guess he could be hyperthyroid? Yeah, I thought about that, but all of his thyroid labs are normal.
- What about pancreatitis? - He's got no pain.
His amylase and lipase are normal too.
I think the obvious answer is right in front of us.
You mean his medicine.
Yeah.
You think this is Munchausen's by proxy.
Maybe she's giving him a little extra to keep him sick.
I don't know.
Feels like a reach.
Is it? You said so yourself.
She's incredibly involved.
A bit too involved, don't you think? I mean, 17's a little old for Mom to be doling out your pills, no? Teens aren't exactly the most reliable when it comes to taking their meds.
Yeah, but Marie does fit the profile.
Hovering, overly concerned She cares about her kid! Look, if you have another explanation We owe it to Brandon to get to the bottom of this.
Without a competing theory, we at least have to explore the possibility.
Dr.
Archer, Dr.
Marcel.
MVC with a motorcycle incoming.
- We're out of beds.
- Hybrid OR.
Taylor, with me.
Second victim's right behind us.
I got this.
Sean Ritner, a 26 year-old male, motorcycle creamed by a car at the intersection.
Intubated in the field.
GCS 3T, BP 190/60, heart rate 130.
Significant blood loss in the field.
Placed a tourniquet and put him in a cardboard splint, but his limb's pretty mangled, and he's shocky.
Trigger MTP.
On my count.
We're going to Hybrid OR.
What have we got? - Oh, my God.
- 38 year-old female.
Unrestrained driver.
Struck a motorcycle while crossing the intersection.
Couple scrapes and bruises, but no focal complaints other than some minor back pain.
I didn't see him! I tried to swerve, but he came out of nowhere.
Okay, don't worry.
We're gonna take good care of you.
John, let me get a bed in here.
Nice and easy.
Here we go.
Line it up right here.
There it is.
All right, guys, on me.
One, two, three.
I want you to breathe for me now.
- Okay.
- Deep breaths.
There you go.
Okay, clear breath sounds bilaterally.
Is he gonna be all right? He's not moving.
Dr.
Archer's gonna take good care of him.
Let's just focus on you, okay? I suffer from anxiety.
I I need my medication.
Okay, we're gonna get you a little something to help you relax.
Half a milligram of Ativan, please.
You feeling any pain anywhere? Okay.
Chest x-ray, stat.
Look at me.
Look at me.
Look at me.
What's your name? - Mya.
- Mya, okay.
My name is Dr.
Marcel.
I'm gonna take care of you, okay? Okay.
All right, pelvis looks good.
I gotta check his arm.
No active bleeding, and I don't feel a pulse.
I'll need a CT angiogram to confirm, but I'm guessing he needs a completion amputation.
Amputation? Yeah, that's what I said.
Unless you have a better idea.
If the brachial artery is out, which I suspect it is, can't we try to revascularize the arm with a reverse saphenous vein graft? All right, we do that and the repair goes down, then what happens? The arm dies, now he's septic, now he might die.
Right.
Forget it.
Dumb idea.
No, not a dumb idea.
Good decisions come from experience, and experience comes from bad decisions.
Actually, you might want to scrub in for this, if you've got the stomach for it.
That'd be incredible.
Thank you, Dr.
Archer.
All right.
I'll come grab you once the patient's prepped.
Thank God.
So it isn't diabetes.
Then he can do the trial! But then what's going on? Well, we haven't quite figured that out yet.
But the most obvious answer is usually the right one, which brings us back to Brandon's medication.
I already told you, though, I manage his medication, so I know he's getting the right dosage.
Are you giving him any other supplements? No, nothing.
Just his prescriptions.
All right, well, we're gonna send over a social worker to speak with you.
A social worker? Why? Wait, what's going on? We'd like to get a better picture of Brandon's regimen.
- Do you not believe me? - No, it's not that.
It's just that we've ruled out any other causes.
I cannot believe this! You think I'm lying, that I'm one of those people that would deliberately make their kid sick? - I would never hurt my son! - Mom? What's going on? They think I'm messing with your medication, - giving you too much.
- What? Okay, no.
She's not.
She would never do something like that.
Look, we're sorry that we upset you.
We should go.
We're only trying to help, Brandon.
Figure out what caused the episode.
But you can't, can you? That's why you're blaming me, - because of your own ineptitude.
- Mom, please No, that is it.
I have had it.
I want to speak to your supervisor.
I'm gonna report you both.
Mom, stop! It was me, okay? I did it.
What? It was it was me.
I've been giving myself the extra drugs.
Hey, looks like this thing's about done.
So do I need to sign paperwork, or We'll let the nurses know about that in just a sec.
Uh, Krista.
What you told us earlier about your work it really spoke to me.
Before I became a doctor, I was actually a cop for, like, ten years.
- Really? - Yeah.
Saw a lot of awful things.
I bet.
I had a run at one point, where, like, I was racking up loss after loss, started to feel like what I was doing wasn't even making a difference.
One of my superiors he encouraged me to talk to somebody.
I didn't want to do it at first, but once I finally decided to sit in that seat and started just letting it all come out, it was like a weight came off my shoulders.
As gratifying as a career helping other people is, there can be a real emotional cost there.
You know, me? I see a psychiatrist regularly.
You know? And those sessions are a lifeline for me.
I can't imagine doing this work without them.
Okay, look.
I do not have time to indulge in therapy, okay? These kids they need someone to fight for them.
I no, I don't have time to sit around and to lick my wounds.
You know, you characterize self-care as some kind of selfish act.
Right? But truthfully, Krista, if you don't address this stuff, next time you hit a low, it might not turn out the way it did today.
And all those kids that you've dedicated your life to they won't have you around to fight for them.
No, but I cannot let them down! And it gets really hard.
It's really, really hard to just keep going.
Look, this wasn't the first time, okay? It's not the first time.
I thought that that might be the case, which is why what I would really like to do is get you checked into our in-patient psych clinic, just for a few days.
Help you get your bearings, start to talk about some strategies to help you out with this stuff going forward.
What do you say? Just a few days.
We all need a break sometimes.
You know? You just you can't give what you don't have.
Okay.
So you took the pills to hike your blood sugar because you knew diabetes was an exclusionary factor.
You don't want to join the trial.
Brandon, what were you thinking? You could have seriously hurt yourself.
I'm sorry, Mom.
It's just that I knew you weren't going to budge on this.
I've spent my whole life being careful, being monitored.
I have missed out on so much.
And if I start another trial, I'm not gonna be able to go to college in London.
Brandon, I think that your mom is just concerned that you'll have another crisis.
I I get that.
But I know my body better than anybody, and I know I can handle it on my own.
I know you may not understand this now, but I am only doing what is best for you.
I'm sorry, honey.
London's gonna have to wait.
You are doing the trial.
We'll go get your discharge paperwork ready.
Thank you.
I feel for that kid.
This really should be his decision.
Pulling a stunt like that doesn't instill a ton of confidence in his ability to look after himself.
It's a separate issue.
You heard him.
He felt desperate.
But this clinical trial device could be life-changing for Brandon.
It'll administer his doses so that he doesn't have to monitor himself.
Marie's giving him more freedom in the long run.
I think she's trying to keep him at home.
Yeah, well, agree or disagree, it's not our call, is it? Your mom's just signing your discharge paperwork.
How you doing? This is crazy.
I'm gonna be 18 in less than six months.
My mom is She just doesn't get it.
I hear you.
What can I do? What can I do? There is one thing.
Hey, Dr.
Marcel.
Hey, Dr.
Taylor.
How's it going? - Uh, it's going.
- Yeah? Actually, no, it's not.
Listen, you overheard my conversation with Dr.
Archer in regard to Sean the motorcyclist's care? Ah, yeah.
I caught some stuff, I think.
I just I can't shake this feeling that we still might be able to save Sean's arm.
- Huh.
- But Archer is probably right, right? Well, there's an argument for either side, honestly, but for my money, I would have gone with what you suggested.
- You would have.
- Yeah.
There's nothing dumb about your idea.
But I have a feeling you already know that.
We have to go upstairs? Great.
I just look, I didn't want to ruffle any feathers.
Archer's the chief of E.
D.
and I'm, like, barely a doctor.
No, actually, you are a doctor, and a very sharp one at that.
Look, I understand work politics and power hierarchies, all of that, but the next time you're feeling passionately about something, don't be afraid to stand by it.
I learned early on, sometimes you gotta choose between being respected and being liked.
What do you mean you don't have a bed? Well, then why does my tablet say you have two? You know what? That's not good enough, all right? I just got a patient to admit herself, to this hospital, to my care.
Scott! Scott, come here.
Ah, system is showing that your patient, Krista Valdez, has been occupying that room for almost four hours now.
You said you were going to be transferring her to in-patient psych? We were, but they don't have any beds.
Listen, you need to start looking around at neighboring hospitals, and make it snappy, please.
We've got more patients with more problems, you know.
Can't turn the ED into a bed and breakfast, now can we? Ah, there she is.
My prize pupil.
I went over your chartings, very meticulous work.
You round early today too? I did, yes.
I wanted to get a head start.
I tell ya, my other residents could learn a thing or two from you.
All right, we're about due up in the OR.
- Ready to head up? - Uh, Dr.
Archer, about that.
- Yeah.
- I'm sorry, I should have said something sooner, but I still think it's worth trying a less aggressive approach first, if there's any chance to salvage Sean's arm.
Well, uh, I appreciate your honesty, but the OR's booked, and Sean's family has signed off, so, uh, let's hit it.
But you did only present one option to his family.
I also consulted Dr.
Marcel.
Did you? Huh.
You go ahead and present your option to the family.
Be sure to inform them of risks, and if they sign off, then I'd be happy to pass the case onto you and Dr.
Marcel, seeing as you two have already consulted.
Oh, and you can deliver any potential outcomes together as well, good or bad.
- Everything okay? - Yeah.
Dr.
Marcel advised me to stand by my opinion on a case, and he's right, I should.
I'm just I don't know, I'm hoping things break my way.
What? What does he mean? Calm down, Mom.
Just let me explain.
- Mrs.
Davis, please - Don't tell me to calm down.
- Mom.
- You told him to do this, didn't you? You have been after me from the minute I got here.
Whoa! What's going on? Tell her.
Brandon has decided to seek counsel to become emancipated so he doesn't have to join the clinical trial.
- What? - How could you do this? How could you even consider this? I'm sorry, Mom.
I'm sorry, but I can't do the trial.
I didn't know what else to do.
Excuse us.
I need to talk to you.
I can't believe you.
You are still just like you were in med school, always getting in other people's business.
Excuse me? Why couldn't you just leave it alone? I'm trying to help our patient.
How? By tearing his family apart? You planted the idea in his head, didn't you? He was distraught.
I told him his options.
At his mother's expense.
You've been judging Marie since she walked in here.
And you've been defending her.
Because I don't like seeing that poor woman being attacked.
Why are you making this personal? I just think she deserves someone in her corner.
Well, news flash, Stevie, she's not our patient.
Brandon is.
And if he wants my help, I'm gonna advocate for him, because that is my job.
Yours too, though you seem to have forgotten it.
Not a single bed? Not even any discharges scheduled for the end of the day? No, I get it.
I appreciate you checking.
Thank you.
Any luck finding Krista a transfer? I've called every hospital with a decent psych ward in a 50-mile radius.
They're all full to capacity.
System's messed up.
Medical interventions are given precedence over psychiatric ones.
What about relatives? Is there a world where we could release her under family care for the night, bring her back in for an appointment tomorrow? Thought about that too, but her dad's deceased, and she's estranged from her mom, you know? She's pretty damn isolated.
It's just her and her work.
All right, fellas.
You find another hospital to transfer Ms.
Valdez to? I need this room free now.
We're working on it, we're not there yet, all right? Every psych ward in the area is full.
All right, well, you know what to do.
All right, arrange for a transfer to Bachmann Medical.
- The state hospital? - Whoa, Dean, Dean, Dean Patient is extremely fragile.
Bachmann is the wrong environment, trust me.
The way they transfer patients there, with police, in cuffs like, the whole thing is humiliating, traumatizing.
They treat people like perps for seeking help.
- I get it, I get it.
I do, but - Do you get it? Do you? Because you've been running this joint like a drive-through car wash since I got here.
We're supposed to be helping people.
What the hell are we doing here any Sorry.
I should have kept my cool back there.
Don't gotta apologize to me.
A crappy situation.
Just when you think you're making in-roads, you know? Helping somebody.
Run into red tape or lack of resources.
It's so damn frustrating.
You had a fair amount of experience with bureaucracy at your old job.
Grew up in the same community I was policing.
South Side, hundreds.
Too many times, I felt like I had to betray the people I was supposed to be protecting.
Hmm.
Why you left? Part of the reason.
You're not trying to shrink me? No, not trying to shrink you, man.
Some years ago, my partner and I we responded to a call.
Stray bullet from a drive-by hit a 14 year-old boy.
Kid was bleeding out, shot through the thigh.
By some miracle, I was able to hold pressure long enough on the wound for the paramedics to respond.
He make it? Yeah, he survived.
It's from the slug that hit him.
Man, it was the most alive, the most useful I felt on the force, you know? It's what drew me to medicine.
But days like today Don't I know it.
I know it feels like we failed her.
But the reality is, it's not safe for Krista to be alone right now.
Given where we are, I think I don't really have a choice.
I gotta call the admitting room at State.
Now look, some good doctors there.
I know a couple of them.
I'll call them up, get her on their radar.
You still got a couple of buddies on the force? Maybe we can get them to handle the transfer? - Yeah, yeah, I could do that.
- All right.
What do you say we go, uh we go make her safe? - Yeah.
- All right.
Crockett, can I talk to you for a sec? Sure.
We gotta make it quick, though, sorry.
I'm due in the OR in a sec.
Yeah, that's actually what I wanted to talk to you about.
You advised Dr.
Taylor to push back against Archer today after a treatment plan had already been put in place.
Uh, no, not exactly.
Dr.
Taylor asked me for my advice, - and I told her - You told her to stick her neck out and make an enemy of the chief of the ED.
You think that was sound advice? Oh, hold on, Maggie.
Dr.
Taylor went to Archer of her own accord.
And I gotta say, I admire her for advocating for her patient.
Where's this coming from? As a person in a position of influence, I think you should be more mindful of the things that you say.
Your two cents it has consequences.
Remember that.
Mrs.
Davis? Can I join you? I swear I only want what's best for Brandon.
I know it probably feels like everyone's judging you right now, but not me.
I see how deeply you love Brandon, and I admire that more than you know.
Brandon suffered his first crisis right after his father died.
My husband was killed in a head-on collision by a drunk driver.
I'm so sorry.
A few weeks after the funeral, Brandon started vomiting out of nowhere.
He could barely move.
He wasn't making any sense.
We don't have any family nearby, I didn't know who to call, I had just lost my husband, and I was so scared that You were gonna lose Brandon, too.
I can see why you're so determined to protect him.
It's just the thought of him being so far away.
If anything were to happen to him, and I wasn't there Mrs.
Davis.
I know that the prospect of letting him go must be terrifying.
But you've taken such good care of Brandon all these years, I think that you can trust that you've shown him how to take care of himself.
He really is a good kid.
- You must have kids of your own.
- No, no kids.
But I was always the little girl that wished that she had a mom like you.
Okay, repair's done.
Removing the vascular clamp from the artery.
Hand me the Doppler.
Not hearing a signal.
Just static.
There's no flow to the wrist.
All right, we're not sunk yet.
If I can pull out the clot, there's a chance we can still restore blood flow.
Let's open up the repair, stick down a balloon, and thrombectomize.
Putting another quarter in the machine.
Wait, what do you mean you don't have a bed for me? I am so sorry that we can't accommodate you here.
Really, I am.
But we have found a bed for you at Bachmann.
Bachmann? No.
No, no, no.
There's no way.
That is for people with really serious issues.
That's Oh, my God.
That's like lockdown.
No, if I cannot stay here, then I would like to go home now, please.
Krista, I'm really very worried about you.
So I'm afraid that discharge is just not an option.
You know, it's my opinion that you are still a danger to yourself, and I really think - you need to be somewhere safe.
- I don't I don't You know what? You made it seem like this was my choice.
- And you made the right choice.
- No, what you both did was lie to me.
You were always going to commit me, weren't you? - Krista - You told me that I can stay here, and that we were gonna figure this out together.
You know what? Screw you guys.
I'm out of here.
- Get this out of me.
- Whoa, Krista No, do not touch me! Hold still Krista, you're gonna hurt yourself.
- Let me go, please! - Restraints! - No! - Whoa, Krista - Restraints, please? - No, please! No, please! No I don't want to! - No! No, please leave me alone.
- Calm down.
- Just let her help you! - Leave me alone! Please leave me alone! - Please, calm down.
Please.
Liars! Going to London! - Good luck at school.
- Thank you! Aw, man.
Marie agreed to let Brandon skip the trial.
She said you spoke to her.
Come on.
What, you're not gonna tell me? What'd you say? There you go, sticking your nose in again.
Seriously, though, I'm sorry that I was hard on you today.
You know I can hit below the belt sometimes.
But it's always followed by a healthy dose of guilt, - if that's any consolation.
- Oh, it is.
- Dr.
Hammer? Your paycheck.
- Thank you.
Don't spend it all at one place.
Yeah, right.
Least I'll be able to make rent this month.
Always was your thing.
Always loved to cry broke.
Well, some of us didn't get a full ride to med school.
Well, maybe if you spent a little less time on your hair and a little more time in the books Hey! How'd it go? Hey! We were able to get a pulse.
Looks like Sean's gonna keep his arm.
- Really? - Yeah, thanks to you.
This is amazing.
Well, let's go share the good news with the family, yeah? Um, listen.
I also need to apologize.
You know, when I weighed in this morning, I didn't mean to, you know, throw you into the lion's den.
- Maggie said I - Wait, Maggie? Yeah, she pointed out that I may have put you in a bad spot with Archer.
- Maybe I did, but I - No, please, if you hadn't said something, it would have haunted me forever.
I am so, so thankful for your advice.
- Okay.
- As a matter of fact, they're doing this program with the residents.
Yeah, I heard of it.
Well, they haven't paired me up with anyone yet.
Any chance you'd want to be my advisor? Yeah.
Yeah, I'd like that.
Great! - Come on.
- Okay.
I really appreciate you're making time to check me out, Dr.
Yang.
It's no problem.
I'm actually glad you checked in when you did.
I don't like the sound of that.
What's up? Your labs show your blood sugar has been climbing over the last month or so.
Well, I haven't changed anything.
I'm still eating healthy, exercising, adhering to my insulin regimen.
Well, as you know, sometimes the disease can progress despite a healthy lifestyle.
But no need to worry.
We'll adjust your meds, add an oral that will reduce your resistance to insulin.
Also, stress can definitely play a part.
Are you dealing with anything particularly taxing right now? Uh, come in? Just the usual work stuff.
- Sorry to interrupt.
- No, no.
I was just leaving.
I'll call in a prescription.
Thank you.
Everything okay? Yeah, yeah.
I'm fine.
Ms.
Goodwin, I think we've taken the wrong approach with Matt Cooper, coming at him headlong, hoping eventually he'll slip up, say something.
Okay? If he's really on the take, the more devices the hospital buys, the bigger his kickbacks, right? So he's gonna want as many departments as he can get to start using the thing.
- Right.
And he needs docs not to just use the device, but to shill for it.
Corruptible docs.
So I make myself the perfect target.
And how do you do that? Cry broke.
Make him think I'd do anything for money.
Let Cooper hook you in.
I knew you were the right man for this job.
Okay, gotta go.
Dr.
Taylor.
Hey! Vanessa.
Vanessa.
Are you leaving now? What about the drink? When I confided in you earlier, I was silly enough to think that it was gonna stay between us.
But you continue to prove you can't stay in your lane.
Vanessa, look.
I'm sorry No.
I just want you to treat me like everyone else.
That's all I want.
Hey, Willie, no cuffs, all right? I know it's protocol, but do me a solid.
You got it.
How long you been doing this? 35 years, I don't know.
Something like that.
How? You gotta hang on to those those good days.
You know, hang on to the wins.
That's why you got that bullet around your neck, right? There you go.
Really important, buddy.
I mean for me, anyway.
Gotta hang on to those wins.
Those are gang colors.
What are you, a cop? I used to be.
But now I'm a doc.
Doctor Hammer.
What brought you back to Chicago? Home, sweet home.
- What made you stay? - Same.
And what's up with you and her? - Let's go.
- All right, let's get her CT.
Dr.
Cooper? What happened with your patient? Is this due to the cardiac output monitor? I want to come back to Med.
Dr.
Cooper is our biggest booster of the Vas-COM, and I suspect it's because he's getting kickbacks.
You're saying you want me to be your spy? Are you in or out? Dr.
Halstead.
Thank you.
Glad to catch you on your way in.
I did some digging on the Open Payments website.
Turns out, Dr.
Cooper has gotten some very fat perks since he started boosting the Vas-COM.
He has also received more than a few "consulting fees" from Vasik Labs and other companies.
And you think they're hidden bribes for promoting the device.
Yeah, illegal kickbacks.
We have to establish that they are bribes tied to the sale of the device.
Look, I can't report Dr.
Cooper, ruin his career, unless I know for sure.
I could stop by the ICU today, see what the Critical Care docs are saying about the Vas-COM and why they're using it so frequently.
See if it's Cooper's doing.
I like that.
Uh, Dr.
Halstead.
Be careful.
Maggie! Morning, Dr.
Taylor.
I, um I found this in my locker.
Was it you? - Yeah, I didn't mean to - No thank you.
Happy birthday.
And don't worry.
No one else knows.
Good, 'cause I don't like to make a fuss.
And of all the days to come in early.
What are you doing here, anyway? You shift doesn't start for another two hours! Decided to start rounding early.
I want to stay two steps ahead of my competition.
No, actually, I want to crush them And win some brownie points with Dr.
Archer.
Atta girl.
Oh, and I know that you probably have other plans, but if you don't, can I take you out for a drink? Okay, I might be down for a drink.
I'll let you know.
Okay.
And that's when I realized that standing out was way better than trying to fit in.
So next time them little girls start runnin' their little mouths making fun of your height, you don't throw hands.
You just look at them and say Don't hate me 'cause you ain't me.
That's right! - Thank you, Dr.
Scott, really.
- Hey, it's my pleasure.
Okay, just try to calm down, please.
- Y'all take care.
- Please, I'm scared.
Please.
Oh, my God, are you a doctor? Please help me, please help me.
- I don't want to die, please.
- It's okay, it's all right.
- What happened? - Said she took some pills.
Sleeping pills, I think.
Her name is Krista Valdez.
- Hey, Treatment 4.
- All right, calm down.
- Sorry, I'm so sorry.
- It's all right.
Just slow your breathing.
- Okay.
- Okay? So you say you took some sleeping pills.
You gotta tell me how many and how long ago.
Uh, I don't know.
12, maybe 14, about ten minutes ago.
- Grab the activated charcoal.
- Got it.
And I'll grab an NG setup.
- Oh, God.
- You got that charcoal ready? - Right here.
- All right.
Okay, Krista, I need you to drink that down slow and steady, all right? It'll help absorb the drugs.
There you go.
Uh-huh.
Oh, God, I can't.
All right, come on.
Give it one more try.
You got it.
There you go.
Yup.
See? NG tube.
- I'm sorry, I can't do it.
- It's all right.
It's all right.
Listen, I'm gonna take this tube, I'm gonna stick it down your nose, and into your stomach, give you the charcoal that way.
No, just wait Am I gonna die? Because this was a mistake.
Okay? I swear.
Listen, you did the right thing by coming in.
We got you.
Now, hang tight.
You're gonna feel this, but it won't last a second.
- Okay.
- Page Dr.
Charles.
Mm-hmm.
Hey, Trish.
Orders for L3.
I was wondering, is it me, or does it seem like we've been seeing the Vas-COM used a lot more frequently as of late? Oh, yeah.
Dr.
Cooper can't stop talking about it.
Really? What's he, uh, saying? Heard my name.
- You looking for me? - Matt, hey.
Yeah, actually.
Was, uh, curious to learn more of the benefits with the Vas-COM device.
It's a pretty remarkable product, really.
In fact, since we've started using it, we've seen an 8% reduction in mortality.
Phew.
8%? - Yeah.
- Yeah, that's impressive.
But, uh, how exactly do you draw a correlation to the device? Oh, it's pretty simple math, really.
So when you're monitoring flow, your patient is, more often than not, in the correct fluid balance, and so that alone has dramatically reduced ICU acute kidney injury rates, which we know is directly correlated to prognosis.
It's not a perfect science.
But the Vas-COM's the only new variable we've introduced, so - Pretty straight line.
- Yeah, yeah.
And the other devices on the market can't even hold a candle.
Vas-COM is a bit more pricey.
- Oh, yeah? - Sure, of course.
But, I mean, cost/benefit, am I right? Oh, listen.
Sorry, I gotta run.
I can send you more info if you're interested.
Yeah, please do! Hey, Nancy, have you seen Dr.
Halstead? - Uh, not for a while, no.
- Okay.
Oh! Dr.
Marcel.
Hey, morning, Ms.
Goodwin.
I've been meaning to touch base with you about a new program the hospital is setting up.
- Uh-huh.
- Totally voluntary, but attendings can sign up as advisors to residents.
Advisors? You know, meet regularly, offer counsel if they have any questions or concerns.
Just, you know, see them through their residency.
Oh, uh, well, listen.
That sounds like a great program.
I just, uh you know, I wouldn't want to leave anyone hanging, you know? Leave anyone hanging how? You planning on leaving Med? No, no.
Nothing like that.
Just, uh, like to keep my dance card open, is all.
- Mm.
- But, hey, let me think about it.
You know, you're the fifth "Let me think about it" this week.
Thank you.
Hey! Hey, you okay? Um, uh, just a little light-headed.
Come on, let's sit down.
You know, I've got this, uh, this gadget, let's Oh, blood sugar's a bit high.
Yeah, it's been like that all week.
Maybe I'll stop by Endocrinology, see if Dr.
Yang can squeeze me in.
Okay, just as a precaution.
You know? - Yeah, yeah.
- Hey, you gonna be okay? I'm gonna be fine, thank you.
- Hey.
- I didn't get far.
Cooper caught me off-guard.
Gave me his hard sales pitch.
I gotta say, this guy's good.
So if he's ever confronted, he can defend everything he's doing as legit.
Do you think he suspected anything? No, but if he is who you say he is, confession's gonna be tough.
Incoming! Who's free? Oh, go, go.
And swing by later? Yeah.
- I'm on it.
- I got this.
- More the merrier, I guess.
- After you.
What do we got? 17 year-old male, passed out at a skate park.
BP 100/20, heart rate 70.
Blood sugar was 200.
Gave a liter of normal saline in the ambo.
- What's your name? - Brandon.
Brandon, I'm Dr.
Hammer.
I'm Dr.
Halstead.
- You got a history of diabetes? - No, uh, no, I don't.
Did someone call my mom? Oh, cops called her.
She's en route.
Brandon, you feel stable enough to switch beds yourself? - Uh yeah, yeah I'm fine.
- Brandon? Oh, my God.
Are you okay, honey? I'm fine, Mom, really.
What were you doing at the skate park? You were supposed to be studying.
- I know.
- It is not good to exert yourself like that.
The stress.
He has Addison's disease.
Was this another crisis? No, it's his blood sugar.
But is he on steroids as a part of his regimen? Yes, Prednisone.
Prednisone can cause high blood sugar - if he's getting too much.
- He's not.
I manage all of Brandon's medications.
I take care of everything.
What he eats, steps per day.
We're very careful.
Are you sure you're all right? Yes, Mom, I'm fine.
Well, if we're sure medication isn't the cause, let's get an A1c test.
That'll give us an idea of his blood sugar levels over a period of time.
It'll help us determine whether his body's making insulin.
There's a chance that he could have developed diabetes.
Oh, God.
No.
Brandon's supposed to be part of an Addison clinical trial for a subcutaneous medication device.
Mom, please.
Diabetes is an exclusionary factor.
It's okay, Mom.
There's gonna be other trials.
Let's not jump the gun just yet.
There may be another explanation.
We'll circle back around as soon as we have something.
We're gonna figure this out.
So, Krista, Dr.
Scott's telling me that this is the first time that you find yourself in a situation like this.
Is that right? Oh, my God.
Yes.
It was such a stupid mistake.
I had been drinking, so I wasn't in my right mind, and as soon as I took the pills, I regretted it.
When you say that you weren't in your right mind, what do you mean by that, exactly? Um I got into an argument with my mom, and I just sort of lost it.
I don't even know why I called her in the first place.
We don't even have a relationship, so I'm sorry to hear that.
Yeah, I totally overreacted.
So how much longer do I need to be here? I just I have a work trip next week.
I'm headed to the Congo, and I just have so much to take care of.
The Congo, wow.
What kind of work do you do? I work for UNICEF.
I'm a human rights attorney.
I act as a negotiator, helping to free child soldiers.
Wow.
That's impressive.
You know what? That is truly admirable.
Really.
I imagine, pretty stressful, too.
No, I have it I have it really easy.
These kids, the things that they're forced to see, forced to do Some of them are as young as five years old.
Trust me, we all live really charmed lives in comparison.
Just listen, I would really like to be discharged as soon as possible, so do you have any more tests to run or how much longer do I need to be here? I want to give you another liter of fluid, you know, make sure you're hydrated.
We'll talk after that.
You should rest a bit, and uh, we'll be back.
Nice to meet you, Krista.
Oof.
Child soldiers? She's seen some horrible things.
Oh, yeah.
No doubt.
I mean, I think we're looking at a mix of PTSD, chronic depression, just general burnout, you know? Yeah, she seems genuinely regretful, though.
You think this is the wakeup call she needed? Ending up in the hospital like this? I think she wants to believe that.
I'm not remotely sold.
Without without an outlet, she's very likely to self-harm again.
We can't just let her walk out of here then.
You know, hopefully Krista will admit herself to in-patient psych, but we gotta get her there.
A bag of saline will buy us an hour.
Stevie.
- Brandon's A1c results? - Yep.
Blood sugar's been normal.
So no diabetes.
I guess he could be hyperthyroid? Yeah, I thought about that, but all of his thyroid labs are normal.
- What about pancreatitis? - He's got no pain.
His amylase and lipase are normal too.
I think the obvious answer is right in front of us.
You mean his medicine.
Yeah.
You think this is Munchausen's by proxy.
Maybe she's giving him a little extra to keep him sick.
I don't know.
Feels like a reach.
Is it? You said so yourself.
She's incredibly involved.
A bit too involved, don't you think? I mean, 17's a little old for Mom to be doling out your pills, no? Teens aren't exactly the most reliable when it comes to taking their meds.
Yeah, but Marie does fit the profile.
Hovering, overly concerned She cares about her kid! Look, if you have another explanation We owe it to Brandon to get to the bottom of this.
Without a competing theory, we at least have to explore the possibility.
Dr.
Archer, Dr.
Marcel.
MVC with a motorcycle incoming.
- We're out of beds.
- Hybrid OR.
Taylor, with me.
Second victim's right behind us.
I got this.
Sean Ritner, a 26 year-old male, motorcycle creamed by a car at the intersection.
Intubated in the field.
GCS 3T, BP 190/60, heart rate 130.
Significant blood loss in the field.
Placed a tourniquet and put him in a cardboard splint, but his limb's pretty mangled, and he's shocky.
Trigger MTP.
On my count.
We're going to Hybrid OR.
What have we got? - Oh, my God.
- 38 year-old female.
Unrestrained driver.
Struck a motorcycle while crossing the intersection.
Couple scrapes and bruises, but no focal complaints other than some minor back pain.
I didn't see him! I tried to swerve, but he came out of nowhere.
Okay, don't worry.
We're gonna take good care of you.
John, let me get a bed in here.
Nice and easy.
Here we go.
Line it up right here.
There it is.
All right, guys, on me.
One, two, three.
I want you to breathe for me now.
- Okay.
- Deep breaths.
There you go.
Okay, clear breath sounds bilaterally.
Is he gonna be all right? He's not moving.
Dr.
Archer's gonna take good care of him.
Let's just focus on you, okay? I suffer from anxiety.
I I need my medication.
Okay, we're gonna get you a little something to help you relax.
Half a milligram of Ativan, please.
You feeling any pain anywhere? Okay.
Chest x-ray, stat.
Look at me.
Look at me.
Look at me.
What's your name? - Mya.
- Mya, okay.
My name is Dr.
Marcel.
I'm gonna take care of you, okay? Okay.
All right, pelvis looks good.
I gotta check his arm.
No active bleeding, and I don't feel a pulse.
I'll need a CT angiogram to confirm, but I'm guessing he needs a completion amputation.
Amputation? Yeah, that's what I said.
Unless you have a better idea.
If the brachial artery is out, which I suspect it is, can't we try to revascularize the arm with a reverse saphenous vein graft? All right, we do that and the repair goes down, then what happens? The arm dies, now he's septic, now he might die.
Right.
Forget it.
Dumb idea.
No, not a dumb idea.
Good decisions come from experience, and experience comes from bad decisions.
Actually, you might want to scrub in for this, if you've got the stomach for it.
That'd be incredible.
Thank you, Dr.
Archer.
All right.
I'll come grab you once the patient's prepped.
Thank God.
So it isn't diabetes.
Then he can do the trial! But then what's going on? Well, we haven't quite figured that out yet.
But the most obvious answer is usually the right one, which brings us back to Brandon's medication.
I already told you, though, I manage his medication, so I know he's getting the right dosage.
Are you giving him any other supplements? No, nothing.
Just his prescriptions.
All right, well, we're gonna send over a social worker to speak with you.
A social worker? Why? Wait, what's going on? We'd like to get a better picture of Brandon's regimen.
- Do you not believe me? - No, it's not that.
It's just that we've ruled out any other causes.
I cannot believe this! You think I'm lying, that I'm one of those people that would deliberately make their kid sick? - I would never hurt my son! - Mom? What's going on? They think I'm messing with your medication, - giving you too much.
- What? Okay, no.
She's not.
She would never do something like that.
Look, we're sorry that we upset you.
We should go.
We're only trying to help, Brandon.
Figure out what caused the episode.
But you can't, can you? That's why you're blaming me, - because of your own ineptitude.
- Mom, please No, that is it.
I have had it.
I want to speak to your supervisor.
I'm gonna report you both.
Mom, stop! It was me, okay? I did it.
What? It was it was me.
I've been giving myself the extra drugs.
Hey, looks like this thing's about done.
So do I need to sign paperwork, or We'll let the nurses know about that in just a sec.
Uh, Krista.
What you told us earlier about your work it really spoke to me.
Before I became a doctor, I was actually a cop for, like, ten years.
- Really? - Yeah.
Saw a lot of awful things.
I bet.
I had a run at one point, where, like, I was racking up loss after loss, started to feel like what I was doing wasn't even making a difference.
One of my superiors he encouraged me to talk to somebody.
I didn't want to do it at first, but once I finally decided to sit in that seat and started just letting it all come out, it was like a weight came off my shoulders.
As gratifying as a career helping other people is, there can be a real emotional cost there.
You know, me? I see a psychiatrist regularly.
You know? And those sessions are a lifeline for me.
I can't imagine doing this work without them.
Okay, look.
I do not have time to indulge in therapy, okay? These kids they need someone to fight for them.
I no, I don't have time to sit around and to lick my wounds.
You know, you characterize self-care as some kind of selfish act.
Right? But truthfully, Krista, if you don't address this stuff, next time you hit a low, it might not turn out the way it did today.
And all those kids that you've dedicated your life to they won't have you around to fight for them.
No, but I cannot let them down! And it gets really hard.
It's really, really hard to just keep going.
Look, this wasn't the first time, okay? It's not the first time.
I thought that that might be the case, which is why what I would really like to do is get you checked into our in-patient psych clinic, just for a few days.
Help you get your bearings, start to talk about some strategies to help you out with this stuff going forward.
What do you say? Just a few days.
We all need a break sometimes.
You know? You just you can't give what you don't have.
Okay.
So you took the pills to hike your blood sugar because you knew diabetes was an exclusionary factor.
You don't want to join the trial.
Brandon, what were you thinking? You could have seriously hurt yourself.
I'm sorry, Mom.
It's just that I knew you weren't going to budge on this.
I've spent my whole life being careful, being monitored.
I have missed out on so much.
And if I start another trial, I'm not gonna be able to go to college in London.
Brandon, I think that your mom is just concerned that you'll have another crisis.
I I get that.
But I know my body better than anybody, and I know I can handle it on my own.
I know you may not understand this now, but I am only doing what is best for you.
I'm sorry, honey.
London's gonna have to wait.
You are doing the trial.
We'll go get your discharge paperwork ready.
Thank you.
I feel for that kid.
This really should be his decision.
Pulling a stunt like that doesn't instill a ton of confidence in his ability to look after himself.
It's a separate issue.
You heard him.
He felt desperate.
But this clinical trial device could be life-changing for Brandon.
It'll administer his doses so that he doesn't have to monitor himself.
Marie's giving him more freedom in the long run.
I think she's trying to keep him at home.
Yeah, well, agree or disagree, it's not our call, is it? Your mom's just signing your discharge paperwork.
How you doing? This is crazy.
I'm gonna be 18 in less than six months.
My mom is She just doesn't get it.
I hear you.
What can I do? What can I do? There is one thing.
Hey, Dr.
Marcel.
Hey, Dr.
Taylor.
How's it going? - Uh, it's going.
- Yeah? Actually, no, it's not.
Listen, you overheard my conversation with Dr.
Archer in regard to Sean the motorcyclist's care? Ah, yeah.
I caught some stuff, I think.
I just I can't shake this feeling that we still might be able to save Sean's arm.
- Huh.
- But Archer is probably right, right? Well, there's an argument for either side, honestly, but for my money, I would have gone with what you suggested.
- You would have.
- Yeah.
There's nothing dumb about your idea.
But I have a feeling you already know that.
We have to go upstairs? Great.
I just look, I didn't want to ruffle any feathers.
Archer's the chief of E.
D.
and I'm, like, barely a doctor.
No, actually, you are a doctor, and a very sharp one at that.
Look, I understand work politics and power hierarchies, all of that, but the next time you're feeling passionately about something, don't be afraid to stand by it.
I learned early on, sometimes you gotta choose between being respected and being liked.
What do you mean you don't have a bed? Well, then why does my tablet say you have two? You know what? That's not good enough, all right? I just got a patient to admit herself, to this hospital, to my care.
Scott! Scott, come here.
Ah, system is showing that your patient, Krista Valdez, has been occupying that room for almost four hours now.
You said you were going to be transferring her to in-patient psych? We were, but they don't have any beds.
Listen, you need to start looking around at neighboring hospitals, and make it snappy, please.
We've got more patients with more problems, you know.
Can't turn the ED into a bed and breakfast, now can we? Ah, there she is.
My prize pupil.
I went over your chartings, very meticulous work.
You round early today too? I did, yes.
I wanted to get a head start.
I tell ya, my other residents could learn a thing or two from you.
All right, we're about due up in the OR.
- Ready to head up? - Uh, Dr.
Archer, about that.
- Yeah.
- I'm sorry, I should have said something sooner, but I still think it's worth trying a less aggressive approach first, if there's any chance to salvage Sean's arm.
Well, uh, I appreciate your honesty, but the OR's booked, and Sean's family has signed off, so, uh, let's hit it.
But you did only present one option to his family.
I also consulted Dr.
Marcel.
Did you? Huh.
You go ahead and present your option to the family.
Be sure to inform them of risks, and if they sign off, then I'd be happy to pass the case onto you and Dr.
Marcel, seeing as you two have already consulted.
Oh, and you can deliver any potential outcomes together as well, good or bad.
- Everything okay? - Yeah.
Dr.
Marcel advised me to stand by my opinion on a case, and he's right, I should.
I'm just I don't know, I'm hoping things break my way.
What? What does he mean? Calm down, Mom.
Just let me explain.
- Mrs.
Davis, please - Don't tell me to calm down.
- Mom.
- You told him to do this, didn't you? You have been after me from the minute I got here.
Whoa! What's going on? Tell her.
Brandon has decided to seek counsel to become emancipated so he doesn't have to join the clinical trial.
- What? - How could you do this? How could you even consider this? I'm sorry, Mom.
I'm sorry, but I can't do the trial.
I didn't know what else to do.
Excuse us.
I need to talk to you.
I can't believe you.
You are still just like you were in med school, always getting in other people's business.
Excuse me? Why couldn't you just leave it alone? I'm trying to help our patient.
How? By tearing his family apart? You planted the idea in his head, didn't you? He was distraught.
I told him his options.
At his mother's expense.
You've been judging Marie since she walked in here.
And you've been defending her.
Because I don't like seeing that poor woman being attacked.
Why are you making this personal? I just think she deserves someone in her corner.
Well, news flash, Stevie, she's not our patient.
Brandon is.
And if he wants my help, I'm gonna advocate for him, because that is my job.
Yours too, though you seem to have forgotten it.
Not a single bed? Not even any discharges scheduled for the end of the day? No, I get it.
I appreciate you checking.
Thank you.
Any luck finding Krista a transfer? I've called every hospital with a decent psych ward in a 50-mile radius.
They're all full to capacity.
System's messed up.
Medical interventions are given precedence over psychiatric ones.
What about relatives? Is there a world where we could release her under family care for the night, bring her back in for an appointment tomorrow? Thought about that too, but her dad's deceased, and she's estranged from her mom, you know? She's pretty damn isolated.
It's just her and her work.
All right, fellas.
You find another hospital to transfer Ms.
Valdez to? I need this room free now.
We're working on it, we're not there yet, all right? Every psych ward in the area is full.
All right, well, you know what to do.
All right, arrange for a transfer to Bachmann Medical.
- The state hospital? - Whoa, Dean, Dean, Dean Patient is extremely fragile.
Bachmann is the wrong environment, trust me.
The way they transfer patients there, with police, in cuffs like, the whole thing is humiliating, traumatizing.
They treat people like perps for seeking help.
- I get it, I get it.
I do, but - Do you get it? Do you? Because you've been running this joint like a drive-through car wash since I got here.
We're supposed to be helping people.
What the hell are we doing here any Sorry.
I should have kept my cool back there.
Don't gotta apologize to me.
A crappy situation.
Just when you think you're making in-roads, you know? Helping somebody.
Run into red tape or lack of resources.
It's so damn frustrating.
You had a fair amount of experience with bureaucracy at your old job.
Grew up in the same community I was policing.
South Side, hundreds.
Too many times, I felt like I had to betray the people I was supposed to be protecting.
Hmm.
Why you left? Part of the reason.
You're not trying to shrink me? No, not trying to shrink you, man.
Some years ago, my partner and I we responded to a call.
Stray bullet from a drive-by hit a 14 year-old boy.
Kid was bleeding out, shot through the thigh.
By some miracle, I was able to hold pressure long enough on the wound for the paramedics to respond.
He make it? Yeah, he survived.
It's from the slug that hit him.
Man, it was the most alive, the most useful I felt on the force, you know? It's what drew me to medicine.
But days like today Don't I know it.
I know it feels like we failed her.
But the reality is, it's not safe for Krista to be alone right now.
Given where we are, I think I don't really have a choice.
I gotta call the admitting room at State.
Now look, some good doctors there.
I know a couple of them.
I'll call them up, get her on their radar.
You still got a couple of buddies on the force? Maybe we can get them to handle the transfer? - Yeah, yeah, I could do that.
- All right.
What do you say we go, uh we go make her safe? - Yeah.
- All right.
Crockett, can I talk to you for a sec? Sure.
We gotta make it quick, though, sorry.
I'm due in the OR in a sec.
Yeah, that's actually what I wanted to talk to you about.
You advised Dr.
Taylor to push back against Archer today after a treatment plan had already been put in place.
Uh, no, not exactly.
Dr.
Taylor asked me for my advice, - and I told her - You told her to stick her neck out and make an enemy of the chief of the ED.
You think that was sound advice? Oh, hold on, Maggie.
Dr.
Taylor went to Archer of her own accord.
And I gotta say, I admire her for advocating for her patient.
Where's this coming from? As a person in a position of influence, I think you should be more mindful of the things that you say.
Your two cents it has consequences.
Remember that.
Mrs.
Davis? Can I join you? I swear I only want what's best for Brandon.
I know it probably feels like everyone's judging you right now, but not me.
I see how deeply you love Brandon, and I admire that more than you know.
Brandon suffered his first crisis right after his father died.
My husband was killed in a head-on collision by a drunk driver.
I'm so sorry.
A few weeks after the funeral, Brandon started vomiting out of nowhere.
He could barely move.
He wasn't making any sense.
We don't have any family nearby, I didn't know who to call, I had just lost my husband, and I was so scared that You were gonna lose Brandon, too.
I can see why you're so determined to protect him.
It's just the thought of him being so far away.
If anything were to happen to him, and I wasn't there Mrs.
Davis.
I know that the prospect of letting him go must be terrifying.
But you've taken such good care of Brandon all these years, I think that you can trust that you've shown him how to take care of himself.
He really is a good kid.
- You must have kids of your own.
- No, no kids.
But I was always the little girl that wished that she had a mom like you.
Okay, repair's done.
Removing the vascular clamp from the artery.
Hand me the Doppler.
Not hearing a signal.
Just static.
There's no flow to the wrist.
All right, we're not sunk yet.
If I can pull out the clot, there's a chance we can still restore blood flow.
Let's open up the repair, stick down a balloon, and thrombectomize.
Putting another quarter in the machine.
Wait, what do you mean you don't have a bed for me? I am so sorry that we can't accommodate you here.
Really, I am.
But we have found a bed for you at Bachmann.
Bachmann? No.
No, no, no.
There's no way.
That is for people with really serious issues.
That's Oh, my God.
That's like lockdown.
No, if I cannot stay here, then I would like to go home now, please.
Krista, I'm really very worried about you.
So I'm afraid that discharge is just not an option.
You know, it's my opinion that you are still a danger to yourself, and I really think - you need to be somewhere safe.
- I don't I don't You know what? You made it seem like this was my choice.
- And you made the right choice.
- No, what you both did was lie to me.
You were always going to commit me, weren't you? - Krista - You told me that I can stay here, and that we were gonna figure this out together.
You know what? Screw you guys.
I'm out of here.
- Get this out of me.
- Whoa, Krista No, do not touch me! Hold still Krista, you're gonna hurt yourself.
- Let me go, please! - Restraints! - No! - Whoa, Krista - Restraints, please? - No, please! No, please! No I don't want to! - No! No, please leave me alone.
- Calm down.
- Just let her help you! - Leave me alone! Please leave me alone! - Please, calm down.
Please.
Liars! Going to London! - Good luck at school.
- Thank you! Aw, man.
Marie agreed to let Brandon skip the trial.
She said you spoke to her.
Come on.
What, you're not gonna tell me? What'd you say? There you go, sticking your nose in again.
Seriously, though, I'm sorry that I was hard on you today.
You know I can hit below the belt sometimes.
But it's always followed by a healthy dose of guilt, - if that's any consolation.
- Oh, it is.
- Dr.
Hammer? Your paycheck.
- Thank you.
Don't spend it all at one place.
Yeah, right.
Least I'll be able to make rent this month.
Always was your thing.
Always loved to cry broke.
Well, some of us didn't get a full ride to med school.
Well, maybe if you spent a little less time on your hair and a little more time in the books Hey! How'd it go? Hey! We were able to get a pulse.
Looks like Sean's gonna keep his arm.
- Really? - Yeah, thanks to you.
This is amazing.
Well, let's go share the good news with the family, yeah? Um, listen.
I also need to apologize.
You know, when I weighed in this morning, I didn't mean to, you know, throw you into the lion's den.
- Maggie said I - Wait, Maggie? Yeah, she pointed out that I may have put you in a bad spot with Archer.
- Maybe I did, but I - No, please, if you hadn't said something, it would have haunted me forever.
I am so, so thankful for your advice.
- Okay.
- As a matter of fact, they're doing this program with the residents.
Yeah, I heard of it.
Well, they haven't paired me up with anyone yet.
Any chance you'd want to be my advisor? Yeah.
Yeah, I'd like that.
Great! - Come on.
- Okay.
I really appreciate you're making time to check me out, Dr.
Yang.
It's no problem.
I'm actually glad you checked in when you did.
I don't like the sound of that.
What's up? Your labs show your blood sugar has been climbing over the last month or so.
Well, I haven't changed anything.
I'm still eating healthy, exercising, adhering to my insulin regimen.
Well, as you know, sometimes the disease can progress despite a healthy lifestyle.
But no need to worry.
We'll adjust your meds, add an oral that will reduce your resistance to insulin.
Also, stress can definitely play a part.
Are you dealing with anything particularly taxing right now? Uh, come in? Just the usual work stuff.
- Sorry to interrupt.
- No, no.
I was just leaving.
I'll call in a prescription.
Thank you.
Everything okay? Yeah, yeah.
I'm fine.
Ms.
Goodwin, I think we've taken the wrong approach with Matt Cooper, coming at him headlong, hoping eventually he'll slip up, say something.
Okay? If he's really on the take, the more devices the hospital buys, the bigger his kickbacks, right? So he's gonna want as many departments as he can get to start using the thing.
- Right.
And he needs docs not to just use the device, but to shill for it.
Corruptible docs.
So I make myself the perfect target.
And how do you do that? Cry broke.
Make him think I'd do anything for money.
Let Cooper hook you in.
I knew you were the right man for this job.
Okay, gotta go.
Dr.
Taylor.
Hey! Vanessa.
Vanessa.
Are you leaving now? What about the drink? When I confided in you earlier, I was silly enough to think that it was gonna stay between us.
But you continue to prove you can't stay in your lane.
Vanessa, look.
I'm sorry No.
I just want you to treat me like everyone else.
That's all I want.
Hey, Willie, no cuffs, all right? I know it's protocol, but do me a solid.
You got it.
How long you been doing this? 35 years, I don't know.
Something like that.
How? You gotta hang on to those those good days.
You know, hang on to the wins.
That's why you got that bullet around your neck, right? There you go.
Really important, buddy.
I mean for me, anyway.
Gotta hang on to those wins.