Also known as: Manic depression
Eric, Abby's brother, is admitted to a psychiatric treatment center for bipolar disorder with manic episodes and delusional thoughts. His mother withdraws him from the program against medical advice, creating major conflict between Abby and her mother about his care.
Also known as: Head laceration
Young boy with concussion after his older brother played 'gravity' by holding him by the ankles and dropping him, requiring head CT.
Also known as: Kidney injury from bus accident
Father involved in motor vehicle accident with abdominal trauma, pneumothorax, and internal hemorrhage requiring emergency surgery. He dies from exsanguination in the OR, leaving behind his transgender daughter/son Morgan.
Also known as: Broken leg bones
12-year-old transgender child with ankle fracture from motor vehicle accident. The case is complicated by the revelation that Morgan, assigned male at birth, has been living as a girl with her father's support, creating conflict when her estranged mother arrives.
Also known as: Transgender
Morgan is discovered to be anatomically male but identifies as female and has been living as a girl. This becomes a central plot point when her father dies and her mother, who disapproves, attempts to force her to present as male.
Also known as: Broken hip
82-year-old woman found by landlord days after falling, with hip fracture requiring surgery. She gives Kovac a $10,000 check as appreciation before dying from pulmonary embolism.
Also known as: Blood clot in lung
Elderly patient with hip fracture develops pulmonary embolism from lying on the floor for days, leading to cardiac arrest and death per her advance directive.
Also known as: Aspirin overdose
Nurse presenting with intractable vomiting found to have aspirin overdose. Investigation reveals she is a victim of domestic violence by her son, and she took the overdose to get medical attention and time away before he ships out to the Navy.
Also known as: Intimate partner violence
Patient's medical records reveal pattern of injuries (fractured orbit, broken jaw, broken ribs, forearm fracture) consistent with ongoing domestic violence by her son.
Newborn abandoned at hospital under Safe Haven Law, less than an hour old with dehydrated state. Mother returns later wanting baby back.
Also known as: Broken collarbone
Motor vehicle accident victim found to have left clavicular fracture in addition to more serious abdominal injuries.
Also known as: Collapsed lung
Trauma patient with left-sided pneumothorax requiring chest tube placement as part of his multiple injuries from motor vehicle accident.