Lesser of Two Evils

**Lesser of Two Evils** is the sixth episode of Season 4 of Chicago Med.

## Summary

Dr. Manning and Dr. Halstead become skeptical of a patient's injuries when the victim of a car accident is brought into the hospital. Ethan and April have a difficult time understanding Emily's attachment to her boyfriend despite recent developments. Will and Natalie brace for their joint bachelor/bachelorette party.

## Cast

### Main Cast

* Nick Gehlfuss as Dr. Will Halstead
* Yaya DaCosta as April Sexton
* Torrey DeVitto as Dr. Natalie Manning
* Colin Donnell as Dr. Connor Rhodes
* Brian Tee as Dr. Ethan Choi
* Marlyne Barrett as Maggie Lockwood
* Norma Kuhling as Dr. Ava Bekker
* S. Epatha Merkerson as Sharon Goodwin
* Oliver Platt as Dr. Daniel Charles

### Recurring Cast

* Arden Cho as Emily Choi
* C.S. Lee as Bernard Kim
* Nate Santana as Dr. James Lanik
* Colby Lewis as Terry McNeal
* Lorena Diaz as Nurse Doris
* Casey Tutton as Monique Lawson
* Tonray Ho as Nurse Leah
* Patricia Kane as Nurse Sandra
* Courtney Rioux as Paramedic Courtney
* Desmond Gray as Paramedic Desmond
* Elena Marisa Flores as Officer Rosado
* Katrina Love as Nurse Katarina

### Guest Cast

* Deidre Goodwin as Jeanette Phillips
* Arnell Powell as John Phillips
* Ekaterina Zalitko as Daria Carson
* Christian Campbell as Adam Carson
* Judae'a as Gabby Phillips
* Michelle Shelton Huff as Alyssa Thompson
* Walter S. Bernard as Dan
* Ted Sima as Bob
* Kirk Osgood as Barista

## Plot

The episode opens with Dr. Will Halstead and his brother, police officer Jay Halstead, getting coffee. Will tells Jay that the E.K.G. reading that he took from Ray Burke shows abnormalities that require a follow up. Jay tells Will he cannot follow up, as he is not actually Ray's doctor, but is only acting like it in order to provide information for a Chicago P.D. and FBI investigation into Ray. Will is evidently uncomfortable with this, but Jay tells him to be grateful that the authorities allowed Will to go ahead with a joint bachelor/bachelorette party for Will and his fiancee, Dr. Natalie Manning, despite the ongoing investigation, and leaves. At the hospital, Maggie Lockwood gives a reluctant Natalie wear a pink 'bride to be' sash to wear, but ends up sending both Willl and Natalie to attend to an incoming trauma patient. The patient, Daria Carson, a 29 year old woman, was in a car crash, as a passenger. The driver, her husband Adam, refused medical care, asking them to look after his wife. Natalie finds that Daria has a skull fracture, and Daria tells them that they are newly-married. Adam continues to refuse medical care and stays by Daria's side, telling them she doesn't speak good English. Will tells Natalie outside that they appear devoted to each other, but Natalie tells him her examination of Daria showed older bruises, including one on her side that looks as though she was stomped on by someone wearing boots.

Dr. Natalie Manning takes her patient, Daria, for an MRI, and before that, takes the opportunity to speak with her about the abuse. She asks Daria if she is experiencing spousal domestic abuse, promising confidentiality. Daria tells Natalie that she and Adam met online, and that Adam visited her in Ukraine and was kind and gentlemanly. Later, when her family faced problems in Ukraine, Adam arranged to get her a visa, but appeared to be a changed man, constantly getting angry with her, and violently abusing her. Daria tells Natalie that one such abusive incident caused the car accident she was in. Natalie tells her that they can report Adam, but Daria refuses, telling her that Adam didn't file for her green card, and that reporting him could get her deported. Natalie and Will go to Sharon Goodwin to express their concerns about Daria's case, who offers to talk to an immigration attorney to see if they can find a solution for Daria. Natalie and Will tell Daria and Adam that Daria's MRI reveals she has a blood clot (pseudoaneurysm) which is covering a blood vessel that tore in the accident. Will tells Daria that they will give her medication to dissolve the clot and monitor it, and opt for surgery if her condition worsens. Adam objects to them addressing Daria directly, asking Will to talk with him instead, but they ignore him. Natalie warns them both that it is important to keep Daria calm as a spike in blood pressure could cause the vessel to rupture. Will and Natalie tell them the restricting visitors including Adam would be ideal, but Adam refuses to go, and Daria reluctantly allows him to stay. Outside, Will is infuriated, asking for three minutes along with Adam, but Natalie asks him to be smart, telling him that revealing Daria disclosed the abuse to them could put Daria at risk.

Meanwhile, Sharon Goodwin tells Natalie that a legal statute allows Daria, as a victim of spousal abuse to independently petition for legal residency without her husband's support or knowledge. If approved, the petition could allow Daria to remain and work in America. Natalie goes to speak with Daria, finding her alone while Adam has gone to get food. Daria warns her that Adam will be back soon, and he does return, interrupting their conversation. Adam, suspicious, tells Natalie that they can just wait for the clot to dissolve at home. Will, entering the room, confirms Natalie's view that going home places Daria's health at significant risk, as complications could develop. When Adam once again answers for Daria, Will tells him that the patient has to make the decision. He tells Daria to tell the doctors she wants to go home, and Daria confirms Adam's answer. With no other option, Natalie and Will leave to get the paperwork started. Both Natalie and Will think that Adam is likely to cause Daria's death if he hits her again. As Adam tries to leave, Natalie and Will informs him that the hospital's Ethics committee is convening to decide if they can keep her against her will. Daria codes, and Natalie and Will go to revive her, with Adam watching. Daria dies, and Will calls the time of death.

Later, Adam asks about making arrangements for Daria's body, and Will tells him that the autopsy will be completed in some days. Adam is upset at the idea of the autopsy, and refuses to allow it. Natalie informs him that the medical examiner doesn't need his consent for the autopsy, and Natalie, Maggie, and Will watch as he leaves, with a concerned expression on his face. They return to the room where Daria is lying, still alive, and tell her that Adam has left. Later, Natalie and Will tell Sharon what they did, admitting that they took a risk in staging the fake code as it could have actually killed Daria. Sharon tells them that if Adam hadn't been convinced by their staged code, Adam could have ensured they all lost their licenses, including Maggie. Sharon tells them that if they try such a stunt again she will fire them both, and that she has arranged to have Daria met with an immigration attorney and social worker.

April Sexton and Dr. Ethan Choi are attending to a child, Gaby Phillips, dressed in a cotton candy Halloween costume handmade by her mother. Ethan tells Gaby's mother, Mrs. Phillips that Gaby's legs appear to be swollen, and Mrs. Phillips suggests that a change in diet could have caused it as Gaby recently became a vegetarian. Ethan disagrees, suggesting Gaby's other symptoms suggest a liver issue, and does an ultrasound, which reveals nodules in her liver. Her parents are surprised to hear them mention cirrhosis, as Gaby doesn't drink, but April tells them cirrhosis signifies scarring that could be caused by several different things. While April and Ethan treat their patient, they talk about Ethan's sister Emily Choi, who has decided to stay with her boyfriend Bernard Kim even after Ethan exposed the fact that Bernard lied to Emily and had been married, with a child, while they were together. April says she understands her position of trying to make things work, as Emily is pregnant with Bernie's child, but Ethan disagrees. April tells him that the decision is ultimately Emily's. Ethan and April return and tell the Phillips that Gaby's scans show liver failure. He examines Gaby's eyes, which show signs of Wilson's disease, indicating her body can't process copper. He tells the Phillips that it is hereditary and asks for family history of it. Mr. Philllips says there isn't on his side, but Mrs. Phillips is hesitant.

Outside, Ethan tells them that Gaby will need a liver transplant, and confirms that a match can donate a part of their kidney to her. Mr. Phillips asks if they can be donors and Ethan tells them yes, provided they're a match. Mrs. Philllips asks if family and friends can be tested as well, and Ethan confirms it. The Phillips start rounding up their friends and family to be tested, while Ethan arranges for them personally to be evaluated as donors. After testing the Phillips, Ethan discovers that the mother has lupus, and the dad isn't a match. The tests also show that Mr. Phillips is not Gaby's father. Ethan consults with Dr. Daniel Charles, Head of Psychiatry, to break the news to the Phillips. They sit together, and Dr. Charles delicately addresses the issue. Mrs. Phillips tells them they have misunderstood, as Gaby is adopted, but that she didn't want to mention it front of Gaby, who still doesn't know. She tells them they have no information on Gaby's biological family, and that she was a ward of the state when they adopted her. Mrs. Phillips later approaches Dr. Charles, asking how long Gaby will have to wait for her transplant, and is upset when he tells here there is no definitive answer, and that it could take days or weeks, and sometimes years, as demand outweighs supply. Mrs. Phillips asks if a drug addict can donate, but is interrupted by her husband, who has brought her coffee. Just then, Gaby has a seizure, and Ethan intervenes, stabilizing her, while Dr. Charles observes.

Later, outside the hospital, Dr. Charles sees the Phillips arguing, and Mr. Phillips tells his wife to get a grip on herself before she walks off. Dr. Charles tells him in a stressful situation like these, tempers are high and people say things they regret. He offers to listen if Mr. Phillips wants to talk, but Mr. Phillips decides to go apologize to his wife instead. Dr. Charles tells Ethan that he thinks the Phillips are hiding something, and that they should check out Gaby's adoption papers. Ethan discovers that there are no adoption papers for Gaby. The Phillips initially suggest the papers must have been lost, and Mr. Phillips is angry that they went behind their backs. Dr. Charles then answers Mrs. Phillips' earlier question, saying that if an addict is now clean, they might be able to donate. He asks them to disclose what they are hiding, to allow them to treat Gaby. Mrs. Phillips confesses that their neighbour used to leave her infant daughter, Gaby, out in the corridor crying, while getting high on drugs, so they rescued Gaby and took her home without telling the mother. Ethan apologizes to them, telling them that they are legally required to report it as a kidnapping. The Phillips say they understand, but ask for a moment with Gaby first.

The Chicago Police locate Gaby's birth mother, who has since become clean of her drug addiction and is working as a hotel maid. They arrest Mr and Mrs. Phillips as Gaby cries, and begs the doctors to intervene. She blames the doctors, telling them this is all her fault. Gaby's mother arrives, telling April that Gaby's original name is Kylie and that she though Gaby was missing all these years. While Gaby's mother is delighted, Gaby rejects her, telling her that she isn't her mom. Gaby's mother outside says that she is just glad for a second chance to meet Gaby, and goes to get tested to see if she can donate her liver to Gaby. She asks to meet the Phillips, and tells the doctors that they saved Gaby's life, and she wants to thank them. Dr. Charles tells Ethan that as men they can never fully understand the complications of motherhood.

Ethan goes to meet his sister, Emily, and apologizes for intervening in her personal life, telling her that he will support her even though he doesn't understand her decision to stay with Bernie and raise their child. Emily tells him that she's glad, and once Bernie is discharged, they will both be moving to Las Vegas. She hugs Ethan.

In the E.R., Dr. Connor Halstead overhears a medical student, Terry McNeal, report to Dr. James Lanik that he has completed a series of assigned errands, including fetching Lanik coffee, changing dressings, and retrieving journal articles. Connor tells him that having students fetch his coffee isn't classy, but Lanik dismisses Connor that McNeal wanted to do the work, calling him a "rising star" and a "real pleaser". Dr. Ava Bekker is also there, and greets Connor, who asks if she has time to have lunch with him. Ava says she'll see. Just then, a patient arrives, carried in by his coworkers. They tell Connor that a piece of sheet metal fell on the patient's leg while they were at working at a construction site, ripping it open. As Terry watches, Lanik, Connor and Maggie tend to the patient, finding that femoral artery has been severed. Connor tells Lanik to place a central line, which Lanik delegates to Terry, noting to Connor that he is assigning Terry to more than running errands. Terry hesitates, telling them he hasn't done it before, and struggles with the task, with Connor telling Lanik repeatedly to step in and help, as it is putting the patient at risk. Lanik refuses, forcing Terry to continue, but Terry accidentally places it incorrectly, causing a bleed. Lanik later rebukes Terry for the mistake, as Connor stares at him.

In the operating room, Lanik continues to be hostile and dismissive of Terry, berating him for asking questions. Connor patiently answers Terry's questions, explaining what they are doing and teaching him. Later, Connor rebukes Lanik for his treatment of Terry, telling Lanik that the fault is, as he is supposed to be supervising and teaching his students. Lanik tells him students learn best under pressure, but Connor objects to having them learn at the cost of his patient's health. Lanik is dismissive of Connor, and tells him he may have been the golden boy in CT but that in emergency care, Lanik is in charge. Ava, overhearing, tells Connor she is glad he found a sparring partner, as he might have been missing arguments with her in the cardio thoracic wing. Connor tells Ava that Lanik is an egomaniac, to which she tells him it takes one to know one, and suggests a late lunch. Connor agrees, and goes with her. Later, Connor sees Terry in the lab, struggling with practicing placing the central line. Connor steps in, and tells him that while some things can be natural knacks, learning most procedures take time and effort to learn, and can be mastered. Terry is very dispirited, telling Connor he made a mistake by picking medical school over the NFL scholarship he had been offered, and that his family is depending on him to do well, as he financially supports them. Connor reassures him, and encourages him to keep practicing, as he will get better.

Connor and Lanik's patient starts coding, and Lanik watches as Connor revives the patient. Lanik suggests that the shunt Connor placed must have failed, but an examination shows that the reason for the code is that there is no pulse in the man's foot. This indicates that the line wrongly placed by Terry has damaged the man's leg, which now needs to be amputated, even while the other leg was ripped by sheet metal. Terry is devastated. Lanik wants Connor to avoid the amputation, telling Connor the man is likely to have brain death. Connor accuses Lanik of wanting the patient to die, as if the patient survives, Lanik will be accountable for the mistake his student made. Lanik denies it, but Connor says he will try to save the patient. Lanik tells Connor that if he goes down, he will take his student, Terry, down with him as well. Terry watches as Connor performs the amputation. After the surgery, the patient is brain dead, and Lanik tells Connor that he should be happy, as they dodged a bullet. Connor warns Lanik to stay out of his way, and Lanik returns the warning. Later, Connor sees Terry outside the hospital and joins him, telling him that the first patient loss is the hardest. He tells Terry he is human, and that Terry needs to focus on his work, and leave his personal doubts and worries behind at the hospital. He tells Terry to hang in there, and that he'll be fine, and Terry thanks him.

As they leave the hospital to go their joint bachelor party, Will tells Natalie that even though they took a big risk that day, he has have no regrets. They see Daria with her social worker and immigration attorney, as they leave. Will tells Natalie that she has to wear the sash that Maggie gave her. Ava leaves for the party with Connor. At the pirate-themed bachelor/bachelorette party, Will and Natalie dance and kiss. Will goes to talk to Jay privately. He tells Jay that he is going to bring Ray Burke in for a check-up, and can't ignore his condition in good conscience as a doctor. Jay tells Will to hold off, as they plan on arresting Ray in the following week, and that Ray can get treatment in custody.