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Backed Against the Wall

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"Backed Against the Wall" is the fourth episode of Season 4 and the sixty-fifth overall of Chicago Med.

Summary[]

Dr. Halstead gets an unplanned visit from the CPD. Dr. Choi is skeptical of a woman who is experiencing chronic pain. Dr. Manning tends to a cancer patient whose brother has strong feelings on why he is refusing to lend his assistance.

Cast[]

Main Cast[]

Crossover Cast[]

Recurring Cast[]

Guest Cast[]

  • Filipe Valle Costa as Manny Calderon
  • Kayli Carter as Tara
  • Peggy Jo Jacobs as Brenna McDouglas
  • Cruz Gonzalez-Cadel as Linda Harper
  • Keith D. Gallagher as James Harper
  • Tyler Gabrielle Brown as Photographer
  • Greg Poljacik as ICE Agent #1
  • David Goodloe as ICE Agent #2

Plot[]

The episode opens at Dr. Ethan Choi's apartment, which he currently shares with his pregnant sister, Emily Choi. Emily enters as Ethan is working out, and tells him she is finally ready to introduce him to her boyfriend, and the father of her child, Bernie. They agree to meet together later that evening. Emily tells Ethan that Bernie is a good guy, whom she loves, and she's sure that Ethan will love him, too. An evidently sceptical Ethan returns to working out, angrily punching a weight bag. At the hospital. Dr. Natalie Manning attends to a new mother, Linda Harper, who has been experiencing some symptoms following a cold, and fainted while holding her son Evan, collapsing on to him and breaking his arm. The woman's husband, James Harper, is sent to be with his son as they attend to the fracture upstairs, and asks Natalie to call Linda's brother, as he doesn't want her to be alone. When Natalie examines Linda, they find extensive blood and bruising on the woman's torso.

Manny Calderon, the brother of Linda Harper, arrives at the hospital, and Natalie takes him to see Linda, telling him that she is covered in bruises, probably as a result of something happening inside Linda's body. Linda starts crying out in pain, and Natalie finds she has fluid in her stomach and an enlarged abdomen. Natalie tells Linda that her symptoms have been caused by a form of leukemia, and that there are only experimental treatments for the medication. She tells Natalie that there is the possibility of stem cell transplants, which she can get from living donors. Natalie is summoned to Sharon Goodwin's office. Sharon tells Natalie that her patient, Linda Harper, is an illegal immigrant without adequate insurance, and so cannot be treated at their hospital. Even though Linda's husband is an American citizen with health insurance, Linda has not applied for a green card. Sharon tells her that their best option is for Linda to get a direct donation of stem cells from her brother, Manny, and pay for it out of pocket. Natalie tells Linda's husband James and Manny of the solution, but Manny tells them that he cannot donate, but refuses to explain why. He acknowledges that Linda will die, but insists he cannot. Furious, James pushes Manny, who collapses, hitting a glass door. Manny tells Sharon and Natalie that he is undocumented, as well as his pregnant wife, and he's worried about being deported. Sharon tells him that the hospital can protect his privacy, but he tells them they don't understand the risks, and he is afraid he will never see his wife or child again.

Dr. Will Halstead and Elsa Curry treat a woman, Tara, who has been suffering from stomach problems, including vomiting and diarrhea, which has not been resolved by over-the-counter medication. She tells them that medicine prescribed on her earlier trip to urgent care didn't work. Will orders some scans. While they wait, Hank Voight, a Chicago P.D. sergeant, arrives at the E.R. and asks Will to speak with him privately. In an ambulance bay, Hank tells Will that having Will recorded as talking to Ray Burke has caused an issue, as the F.B.I. are now investigating Will for accepting kickbacks from Ray. He reminds Will that Will had Ray's medical tests run for free in the hospital, and also accepted a discounted deal to rent Ray's wedding venue hall. Will is shocked, but Hank tells him that he can resolve the issue by becoming an informant for the Chicago P.D. and F.B.I.. Will is reluctant, even when Ray tells him that it could cost Will his medical license. Will later refuses calls from Hank. Natalie hears Will leaving an angry voicemail to Jay Halstead, Will's brother, who is also a Chicago P.D. officer, and asks him what is wrong, but Will lies and tells her that they are arguing over some old baseball cards. Natalie asks him what Hank Voigt wanted earlier, and Will lies again, telling her Hank wanted Will's medical opinion on something.

Meanwhile, the tests show that all of Tara's vitals are normal, except for some ovarian cysts, which Tara says runs in her family. Will notices that she seems to be experiencing neck pain. Elsa tells Tara that the issue could be meningitis or encephalitis and they order a spinal tap. Tara refuses to call anyone for assistance, telling them her girlfriend is busy, but that she has podcasts and music to keep her company. While Tara's tests come back inconclusive, she starts slurring and part of her face is paralysed, suggesting her brain is affected. Will asks Elsa to get Tara an MRI but also an ultrasound to check her cysts, but Elsa is doubtful that it will help. Will texts his brother Jay, asking him to call, and meanwhile Elsa tells him that the ultrasound is clear, not showing any teratomas. Will is insistent that the only explanation is a tumor, requiring surgery that would leave Tara without the ability to have children. He tells Elsa to start over, taking a new patient history and running all the tests again. Meanwhile, Will finally manages to reach his brother Jay and they meet near the hospital. Jay tells Will that he did not know about the meeting with Hank, as the FBI specifically kept him out of the loop, knowing he is Will's brother. He tells Will to become the informant, as he is ideally placed to help them, and that they have been trying to catch Ray Burke for a long time. Will refuses, saying he will contact Ray and tell him they are not using the his venue for their wedding. When he returns, his patient Tara has collapse, and Will orders the surgery to remove her ovaries, over Elsa's objections. After the surgery, Elsa shows Will the pathology report showing that Tara did have a teratoma in her uterus, justifying the surgery. Will, relieved, tells Elsa it was the toughest call he has had to make as a doctor. Elsa doubts that it was tough, reminding Will that he said he didn't have a choice.

At the hospital, Ethan arrives to meet Emily and her boyfriend, Bernard Kim, and discovers that Emily has asked his ex-girlfriend, April Sexton, to act as a buffer. April stays until the introductions are complete, and then excuses herself. Later, Ethan tells April that he was surprised to see that Bernie is 20 years older than Emily and disapproves. He tells April that Emily has always dated people who were inappropriate and unreliable, and that he sees the same red flags in Bernie, and is worried about being left to pick up the pieces when Bernie inevitably betrays or abandons Emily. April tells Ethan he is being childish. Ethan then goes to treat a patient, Nora Blake, who immediately calls him a "real doctor," referring to Terry McNeal, a medical student who is attending to her, in whom she clearly has no faith. Ms. Blake has back pain, and Terry finds evidence of a surgical scar, which she tells him is from an unsuccessful surgery to address her back pain. From the information she shares, it is evident that she has been suffering from back pain for a while and that medical remedies have not worked. They order pain medication and a scan, and later, Ethan reassures Terry, telling him some patients can be difficult. Terry brushes it off, telling Ethan he can handle it.

Terry and Ethan return with Nora Blake's tests, telling her that she shows signs of spinal degeneration. She realises they want an MRI but feels that it won't help them any more, as she has done this before. She tells them she is a busy lawyer, and just needs pain medication to move on. She gives them the prescription she wants. Ethan runs her name into a database to confirm whether she is simply seeking drugs, suspicious by her refusal of the MRI. When Nora doesn't show on the database, Ethan tells Terry to check with the hospital where Nora says she had her back surgery and Terry finds that there is no evidence Nora was treated there, let alone engaging in drug-seeking behavior. Ethan and Terry speculate that Nora might also be lying about her name, and they consult Dr. Daniel Charles. Daniel tells them to start fact-checking the details that Nora told them, so Ethan and Terry look at the website of the the law firm she claimed to work at, and find out she lied to them about her name, which is actually Brenna McDouglas. Ethan and Terry confront Brenna, who admits that she lied about her name, and recommend a therapist to help her deal with pain medicine addiction.

Brenna refuses to see a counselor or treat her addiction to pain medication. She tells Ethan and Terry that she is a wealthy lawyer with insurance, unlike the "Mexican" man next door getting treatment despite getting into a scuffle in the patient room, and that she won't be denied her prescription while they treat illegal immigrants. She threatens to sue the entire department, and demands to see their boss. Ethan refuses to give her the prescription, and tells Dr. Lanik that his patient wants to talk with him. Meanwhile, Natalie tells Linda and James they can still get stem cells from Linda and Manny's infant son, Evan, but the procedure is risky and painful for Evan. Hearing this, Manny agrees to donate his stem cells, despite the risk to himself. Natalie preps an evidently nervous Manny to start taking the medicine that will allow him to donate his stem cells to Linda in a few days. Later, Natalie walks Manny out of the hospital, telling him she is sorry for the current situation. As she walks away, ICE arrest Manny over Natalie's protests, to deport him. Later, Dr. Lanik tells Sharon, Natalie, and Gwen Garrett that Brenna reported the altercation with James and Manny, so he reported it to law enforcement. Gwen tells them that she allowed I.C.E. on to the hospital premises because they told her that Manny had an outstanding warrant. Sharon points out that the warrant was for theft of an item costing $8 in 2010 which didn't warrant such extreme action. Natalie tells them that this has put Manny's pregnant wife at risk as well. Gwen tells them that she is sorry for the outcome but that her priority is protecting the hospital. Later, Ethan, Terry, and Dr. Charles see Brenna leaving, having received her prescription for pain medication from Dr. Lanik. Terry tells Dr. Charles that Brenna should be the one in handcuffs, and Dr. Charles agrees, but tells Terry that imprisoning an addict like Brenna won't work. Terry tells Dr. Charles that he is probably going to have a lot of cases like this that don't end well, but Dr. Charles tells him he will also have a lot of cases that do end well. Later, Natalie apologizes to Linda and Charles for the situation. Sharon puts together a list of immigration attorneys to help Linda, but Natalie tells Sharon that the hospital's position is essentially telling people who need help to fear doctors.

In the new hybrid O.R., Dr. Connor Rhodes is briefing a group of reporters about the new hybrid E.R., as they take notes and photographs of him. Sharon Goodwin thanks him for being patient and charming with all the press briefings, and Connor tells her that she got him "Xanadu," meaning the new hybrid surgery theater, for which he is happy to turn on the charm. Dr. Ava Bekker, overhearing, mocks Connor, pretending to ask for his autograph. Connor laughs along, and admits that she was right in telling him the previous week that the new E.R. need more preparation. Ava leaves for surgery, congratulating Connor. Later, Connor takes on a patient, Ricky Glendon, who was hit by a bus. He needs surgery, and Connor moves him into the new hybrid O.R., asking Maggie if she's decided if she wants to join his team. Maggie scrubs in to surgery with Connor, asking April to take over as charge nurse while she does so. During the surgery, Connor runs into complications, and tells Maggie to bring in Dr. Leah Bardovi to assist him. Instead, Dr.Ava Bekker scrubs in, because her surgery is on hold while Connor uses the bypass machine. She tells Connor to take his patient upstairs the bypass machine is ready there, and he agrees. Once upstairs, Ava tells Connor that she is now the lead surgeon, since the patient has been moved upstairs to cardio thoracic surgery, and he can assist her or leave. Connor steps aside, letting her take charge and Ava tells him that he manages the O.R., but here she takes precedence. Connor tells her that the hybrid O.R. needs a bypass machine. Later, Ava comes to the hybrid O.R. and apologises, but Connor tells her not to apologize. Connor tells her he is looking for space for a bypass machine for the O.R. to avoid such situations in the future.

At the end of the episode, Bernie (Emily Choi's boyfriend) intercepts Ethan and tells him that despite the fact that he is older than Emily and dated her in A.A., which he shouldn't have, he wants Ethan to know that he is committed to being sober and loves Emily. He assures Ethan he will take care of Emily and the baby. Ethan says okay, and leaves. Jay goes home and finds Will sitting on his doorsteps. Jay tells Will he's tired and doesn't want to fight, but Will asks him if he is really the only option for their investigation. Jay tells him he is, and Will agrees to act as an informant.

Gallery[]

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