Also known as: Rape
Abby is a sexual assault survivor who presents to the ER with injuries she initially attributes to household accidents. Jo recognizes signs of trauma and sexual assault, and performs a rape kit with Abby's consent. This is the central case driving the entire episode's narrative about consent, trauma, and supporting survivors.
Also known as: Hole in the diaphragm
Abby has a tear in her diaphragm resulting from the sexual assault, causing abdominal organs to move into her chest. This requires surgical repair and creates medical urgency, but also provides the dramatic tension around preserving evidence before surgery.
Also known as: Facial cut
Abby presents with a deep facial laceration that she initially claims was from hitting her face on a cabinet. This injury is part of the constellation of trauma from the sexual assault and serves as her entry point to the hospital.
Also known as: PTSD
Abby exhibits acute trauma responses throughout the episode, including hyperventilation, panic when seeing male faces, fear of leaving her hospital room, and dissociative symptoms. Her PTSD from the assault is portrayed in real-time as she processes the trauma.
Also known as: PTSD
Jo's history of trauma from domestic violence is revealed as the episode explores her reactions to Abby's case and her confrontation with her birth mother about her origins from rape. Her PTSD manifests in her avoidance behaviors and emotional responses throughout the episode.