Also known as: Asperger's syndrome
12-year-old Zack has severe autism with worsening behavioral problems including violent fits and self-injury. His mother Sydney illegally gives him marijuana to manage symptoms, which eventually leads to him ingesting PCP-laced street drugs and developing hypertensive crisis. This case drives the central ethical conflict between Pete and Cooper about medical marijuana use in pediatric patients.
Also known as: Transgender
Jane is a transgender woman seeking gender reassignment surgery. Sheldon evaluates her psychiatric readiness and discovers she's hiding emotional pain behind rehearsed answers. After being denied surgery approval, Jane attempts self-surgery and cuts off her own penis, requiring emergency intervention.
Also known as: Migraines
Sydney has chronic migraines treated with medical marijuana prescribed by Pete. She diverts this medication to her autistic son Zack, which becomes the catalyst for the main medical ethics storyline.
Also known as: High blood pressure emergency
Zack develops acute hypertensive crisis (BP 180/120) after his mother gives him street marijuana laced with PCP. He requires emergency treatment with lorazepam and nipride drip to manage the life-threatening blood pressure elevation.
Also known as: PCP overdose
Zack's toxicology screen is positive for PCP after his mother purchases marijuana from the street that was contaminated with the drug. This causes his violent outburst and medical emergency.