Also known as: Early-onset Alzheimer's
Evelyn Myers has progressive early-onset Alzheimer's and presents with acute renal failure requiring emergency dialysis, creating a conflict between her advance directive refusing dialysis and her apparent desire to live in the moment.
Also known as: Kidney failure
Evelyn develops acute renal failure requiring emergency dialysis, which conflicts with her advance directive and drives the central ethical dilemma of the episode regarding decisional capacity.
Also known as: Colorectal cancer
Nick has late-stage colorectal cancer secondary to familial adenomatous polyposis and presents with suspected colonic obstruction. He undergoes experimental TaTME surgery but dies from a pulmonary embolism post-operatively.
Also known as: FAP
Nick's FAP led to his colorectal cancer, and concern about his unborn son potentially inheriting the condition motivates his decision to undergo experimental surgery.
Also known as: CHF
Nick developed congestive heart failure from chemotherapy, which increases his surgical risk for the TaTME procedure.
Also known as: Blood clot in lung
Nick dies from a suspected pulmonary embolism following his experimental TaTME surgery, presenting with tachycardia, hypotension, and desaturation before going into VFib and asystole.
Auggie is a foster child with chronic autoimmune hepatitis that has progressed to cirrhosis. He presents with worsening ascites due to missed medical appointments.
Also known as: Liver scarring
Auggie has cirrhosis from his chronic autoimmune hepatitis, requiring regular paracentesis which he has missed due to his foster care situation.
Also known as: Protein intolerance
Joy has an undiagnosed genetic urea cycle disorder that is unmasked when her fiancé secretly adds protein powder to her diet, leading to high ammonia levels and seizures.
Also known as: Broken leg
Joy fractures her distal fibula after passing out on a treadmill at the gym, which leads to discovery of her underlying metabolic condition.