Also known as: AIDS
A 4-year-old boy with advanced AIDS develops cryptococcal meningitis requiring multiple painful lumbar punctures. The episode focuses on the decision between aggressive treatment versus comfort care, with the mother ultimately choosing to take him home for his final days.
Also known as: Leg amputation
A motorcycle rider's arm is completely amputated in a hit-and-run accident. The episode reveals this was actually insurance fraud - his girlfriend Carrie used an ax to amputate his arm to collect insurance money before their policy expired.
Also known as: Intimate partner violence
A woman presents with multiple contusions and two cracked ribs from domestic violence by her police officer husband. The episode addresses Benton's initial reluctance to intervene and the difficulty of helping abuse victims who won't press charges.
Also known as: Skin cancer
A 36-year-old man comes to the ER for a finger laceration, but Carter notices a suspicious mole and diagnoses malignant melanoma with possible spread to lymph nodes, requiring biopsy.
Also known as: Heroin addiction
The woman who brought in her boyfriend with the amputated arm is revealed to be a repeat drug-seeker with a history documented in the 'turkey file.' She overdoses on stolen morphine in the ER.
Also known as: Blocked intestine
Mentioned in opening scene where Carter describes spending all night in the OR with a woman whose bowel obstruction case crashed during surgery.
Also known as: Butt plug stuck in rectum
A patient presents with a flashlight lodged in his rectum, claiming he fell on it while changing a fuse naked. Carter is assigned the extraction procedure.
Also known as: Dislocated finger
Benton's injured finger from a previous episode continues to be an issue as he removes his splint prematurely against medical advice, affecting his surgical abilities.