Ep 14. Playing Through
- February 3, 1999
The episode 'Playing Through' starts off with a patient named Timmy who has come to the Chicago Hope hospital for a heart transplant. His condition is not well and he needs immediate surgery. However, when surgeons Dr. Jeffrey Geiger and Dr. Aaron Shutt examine him, they realize that Timmy may not be a good candidate for heart transplant surgery.
Meanwhile, Dr. Kathryn Austin, a new member of the hospital staff, has arrived and is struggling to find her place in the hospital hierarchy. She is introduced to the head of the hospital’s heart transplant program, Dr. Jack McNeil, who takes a keen interest in her.
As the episode progresses, Dr. McNeil becomes Timmy's primary doctor and is determined to find a way to help him. He decides to use an experimental device called a ventricular assist device (VAD) as a bridge to transplant, but he needs the consent of Timmy's parents, who are hesitant to take the risk. Dr. McNeil works with Timmy's parents to convince them of the benefits of this device and how it could help their son's situation.
In addition to Timmy's case, Dr. Geiger and Dr. Shutt take on a patient who is a professional golfer. The golfer has developed a tremor in his hands that could affect his career, but the doctors are unsure if the tremor is a symptom of a larger medical issue. They test the golfer and try to determine the root cause of his tremor so they can accurately diagnose and treat him.
As the episode progresses, tensions rise between Dr. McNeil and Dr. Geiger when they disagree on the best way to approach Timmy's case. Dr. Austin tries to mediate the situation and find a resolution that will benefit the patient.
The episode culminates in a life or death situation for Timmy, and everyone in the hospital works together to try to save him. The doctors race against time to get Timmy the treatment he needs to survive.
'Playing Through' is a stirring episode that showcases the dedication and expertise of the doctors at Chicago Hope hospital. It highlights the ethical dilemmas that arise when working with experimental treatments and the importance of open communication and collaboration among the hospital staff.
