Also known as: Liver injury
Rick Tyler suffers a severe liver injury in a car accident requiring emergency surgical repair. The bleeding is controlled through surgery, but the injury contributes to his deteriorating condition.
Also known as: Rhabdo
Rick's mangled leg causes muscle breakdown that releases myoglobin into his bloodstream, poisoning his kidneys. This necessitates amputation to prevent death, creating a central ethical dilemma when his wife must decide whether to proceed with surgery.
Also known as: Intimate partner violence
Kim presents with old bruising on her lower back suggesting domestic abuse by her husband Rick. This abuse history becomes central to the ethics committee decision about who should consent to Rick's amputation, and ultimately suggests Kim may have caused the accident intentionally.
Also known as: Death-like state
Xavier, a 10-year-old boy, was misdiagnosed as being in a persistent vegetative state after a bike accident. Dr. Charles recognizes waxy flexibility and correctly diagnoses catatonia caused by psychological trauma related to his stepfather's dangerous police work. The diagnosis is confirmed when Xavier begins breathing independently after ventilator removal.
Also known as: Bed sore
Xavier presents with an infected pressure ulcer on his hip from prolonged immobility. This brings him to the hospital where his misdiagnosis is discovered.
Also known as: Sperm allergy
Nina, a newlywed trying to conceive, develops a severe rash and ultimately anaphylactic shock. She is diagnosed with a rare allergy to her husband's semen, which emerged after they stopped using condoms to get pregnant.
Also known as: Heroin addiction
Dr. Asher's ongoing opioid addiction continues as a subplot. Will Halstead pressures her to attend NA meetings or rehab, she initially resists, and by episode's end agrees to turn herself in with Will's support.